Deployed AWACS aircrew overcome unique challenge

  • Published
  • By Capt. Renee H. Lee
  • Cope Tiger Public Affairs
KORAT ROYAL THAI AIR BASE, Thailand --  E-3 Sentry aircrew members deployed here in support of Exercise Cope Tiger 2008 performed a quick turnaround and still completed a mission on time Feb. 3.

A rare challenge, the E-3 was flying a mission during the exercise's Large Force Employment (LFE) when the KC-135 of the 909th Air Refueling Squadron of Kadena Air Base, Japan, based at Udon Royal Thai Air Base was unable to refuel the AWACS due to adverse weather.

The AWACS, belonging to the 962nd Airborne Air Control Squadron (AACS) from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, returned from its support area, ground-refueled 65,000 pounds, then launched to complete its air battle management mission.

"I've seen such a quick turn only once in my 20 years of flying AWACS missions," said Maj. David Alexander, mission crew commander, 961st AACS of Kadena AB, Japan. "Our normal method of operation is to sustain airborne operations with in-flight air refueling versus landing and ground refueling."

The detour from the normal mission presented several challenges, including performing a thorough inspection once the aircraft is on ground, safely getting personnel off and back on the aircraft and connecting with the fuel truck, said Master Sgt. Zerian Moore, lead pro-superintendent of the 961st AACS.

Although the AWACS belonging to the 961st AACS is deployed here from Kadena AB, it's been down for maintenance, resulting in Elmendorf's AWACS to carry out recent exercise missions with members from both squadrons.

"If we have another aircraft that's fully mission capable, then we would launch that jet with our second crew," said Capt. Rodney Gunny Lammert, senior director of the 961st AACS.

Despite refueling the aircraft on the ground, members of both Kadena and Elmendorf squadrons worked together to successfully complete the mission on the Elmendorf aircraft.

"Both teams have to work together whether you're operations or maintenance to get the other tail in the air to continue to support Cope Tiger 2008," Captain Lammert said. "It's a team effort and it takes both squadrons to pull it out. This shows us that despite squadron idiosyncrasies, we have to know how each other works and that we'll excel at exercises like this."

"We formed one expeditionary AACS after arriving in Thailand," said Lt. Col. Matt Mace, 961st commander. "Today's events validated our baseline training and the interoperability planning we started months ago. The teamwork and quick response from everyone were outstanding accomplishments. The aircraft was only on the ground for two hours and 20 minutes. We had very little wiggle room to meet our afternoon tasking."

The annual Cope Tiger exercise provides PACAF AWACS squadrons an opportunity to train combat search and rescue (CSAR) missions with U.S. forces as well as the Thai and Singaporean coalition partners.

The squadrons worked with A-10s from the 25th Fighter Squadron from Osan AB, South Korea, in concert with CH-47s from the Republic of Singapore Air Force and UH-1s from the Royal Thai Air Force.

At home station at Kadena AB, the 961st AACS typically has one or two CSAR training missions, but at Cope Tiger, the squadrons trained about 15 times.

On its morning mission, the expeditionary AACS aircrew members planned and briefed with the RSAF and RTAF pilots and then launched to control 19 Thai aircraft, 14 RSAF aircraft and eight U.S. aircraft. After the quick ground refueling, the AWACS joined forces with a Singaporean E-2 and Thai ground controllers based in Bangkok to control Singapore and Thai ground control based in Bangkok.

Training like this keeps the point end of the AWACS spear sharp, said Captain Lammert.

 "Anytime we have the opportunity to go to an exercise where we have coalition partners in the Pacific area of responsibility, not only do we show them how we employ but we also see how they employ their aircraft (Thai and Singaporean fighters).

"This strengthens the ties that we have with our Asian counterparts. That is invaluable.'"

Cope Tiger ends on Feb. 5.