Peter La Franchi/CANBERRA
The USA is to deploy an intelligence gathering aircraft to support the UN-backed International Force East Timor (INTERFET) now being deployed to restore security in the Indonesian province.
According to the Director of the US Joint Staff for Operations, Admiral Scott Fry, the aircraft are expected to be either a Lockheed Martin EP-3C or a Lockheed U-2 and will be supported by a ground based intelligence analysis team.
A second airbridge is being created at Baucau airport on the north coast of East Timor to support a dramatic expansion of the existing airbridge between Darwin and Dili. Fry says the USA undertook assessments of the Baucau airport as early as June this year to determine whether or not it was capable of handling Lockheed C-141 and Boeing C-17 operations.
At least six nations are contributing aircraft to support the INTERFET deployment. The USA is making available C-17s, Lockheed C-5s and Lockheed Martin C-130s normally based in Hawaii and Japan to support the airbridge and the transport of other nation's helicopters to the main INTERFET operational base at Darwin.
The UK used two Hercules and a BAC VC10 to support the deployment of some 250 Gurkhas to Darwin on 16 September. It is unclear, however, whether the aircraft will remain available to the peacekeeping operation.
Portugal is providing a single C-130 and four helicopters. Italy is to contribute a single Alenia G222 to support its detachment of 200 paratroopers. The Royal New Zealand Air Force has contributed two C-130s and four Bell UH-1H helicopters. Aircraft will also be made available by the Canadian National Defense Force.
Source: Flight International
