Home  /  Media  /  News  /  2025  /  NATO E-3A AWACS Completes Five-Month Deployment to Greece

GEILENKIRCHEN, Germany - On 16 April 2025, NATO E-3A AWACS aircraft returned from a five-month deployment to Forward Operating Base (FOB) Aktion in Preveza, Greece. Since November 2024, NATO AWACS supported Assurance Measures from Greece and enabled the crew to maintain operational readiness regardless of the winter conditions at the Main Operating Base in Geilenkirchen. 

The deployment involved over 100 personnel and allowed the NATO AWACS detachment to conduct key surveillance and training missions, keeping crews mission-ready at all times.

Being deployed to FOB Aktion also provided valuable training in the Agile Combat Employment (ACE) Concept, which is central to NATO’s air power strategy. ACE improves resilience and air power projection by operating crews and aircraft from both home bases and dispersed locations. 

“ACE is in the DNA of NATO AWACS,” explained Colonel Maurizio Maggio, Operational Wing Commander E-3A Component, “This deployment to our Forward Operating Base in Greece showed our ability to stay flexible, interoperable, and ready to respond at a moment’s notice.”

As NATO AWACS operations are essential for the Alliance, ACE remains important—enhancing agility, resilience, and mission continuity across the Alliance.

Crew members returning from their deployment to FOB Aktion. Photo by OR-5 Andrew Hummel.

Crew members returning to MOB Geilenkirchen after a deployment to Greece. Photo by OR-5 Andrew Hummel.

NATO AWACS touching down at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen after being deployed to FOB Aktion in Greece. Photo by OR-5 Hummel.