27 June 2002

NATO Ambassadors tour AWACS sites On 27 June, the Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Alessandro Minuto Rizzo, and NATO Ambassadors visited the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Programme Management Agency (NAPMA) in the Netherlands and the main operating base in Geilenkirchen, Germany. Their visit took place a day before the 20th anniversary of the base, which was opened in 1982. The decision to activate the AWACS component was taken by NATO in 1978. The Deputy Secretary General and the Ambassadors were briefed on current programmes and operations and were able to see demonstration flights. AWACS provide air surveillance and early warning capability by transmitting data to command and control centres on land, sea and in the air. In total, seven were sent to the United States to contribute to the fight against terrorism. They returned to base in May 2002. Additional information: Webmodule on NATO and the Scourge of Terrorism NATO Update: NATO AWACS return from the United States - 16 May 2002 High resolution photos of the visit of NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson, to the NATO AWACS Air Base at Geilenkirchen (Germany) to mark the conclusion of "Operation Eagle Assist" - 16 May 2002 NATO Update: Geilenkirchen and Operation Eagle Assist - 18 March 2002 NATO Update: NATO provides additional support in fight against terrorism - 16 January 2002 NATO Update: Deployment of NATO forces - 9 October 2001 NATO Update/SHAPE News Release: NATO Airborne Early Warning Aircraft Begin Deploying To The United States - 9 October 2001