Carol Reed/HIGH WYCOMBE
Europe's largest air forces are fine tuning their plans to step up their capability for combined operations under the aegis of an expanded European Air Group (EAG).
A working group of the two full EAG members, the French air force and Royal Air Force, will meet on 5 and 6 May, together with Italy and Germany as observers, to discuss a two phase expansion of the EAG and its future role as a practical working model for multinational contingency operations.
Italy is set to sign up s a full member of the EAG in Phase 1, while Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain will be invited to join under the second phase.
Germany, like Italy, was invited to join in January 1997, but has yet to make a decision, although the original deadline was set for last December. When Bonn has given formal notice of its intentions, Phase 2 of the expansion programme will be launched. Once invited, the new entrants are expected to be given full member status within a few months.
Central to the EAG's future role is the establishment of working practices to meet the needs of NATO and the Western European Union for joint task forces.
"We need to be able to co-ordinate the EAG air forces to meet NATO CJTF [Combined Joint Task Force] and JFAC [Joint Force Air Component] objectives, so we all have the same response and workshare plan and are trained for a multinational capability, with a cadre of staff that can conform to the whole concept of the CJTF," says Air Marshal "Black" Robertson, chief of staff and deputy Commander in Chief at Headquarters RAF Strike Command.
On 16 June the EAG steering group will meet in newly built facilities at RAF Strike Command headquarters at High Wycombe to agree the final parameters of the new strategy. EAG staff will also be increased to 28 from the current 11-strong team stationed at the site.
"The expansion means we can get the French, Italians, UK and others together in a coalition and operate together instantly," says Robertson. "This is a practical organisation," he says, explaining how the group will establish a working database with an inventory of all the air forces' assets for use in contingency planning for a range of theatres.
Under current arrangements, the RAF and the French air force are working on improving their interoperability, notably in air to air refuelling for force projection requirements. Regular exercises are held to train for various scenarios, including command co-ordination, air defence and medical evacuation.
Source: Flight International