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| Updated: 07-Mar-2003 | March 2003 |
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NATO support to Turkey
The Commander in Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH) Admiral Gregory G Johnson, US Navy, has assumed control of the three Dutch batteries of Patriot ground-based, air defence missile systems, which have deployed to Diyarbakir and Batman, South Eastern Turkey. The deployment follows the NATO Defence Planning Committee’s authorisation to implement, as a matter of urgency, defensive measures to assist Turkey. The batteries were transported by sea from The Netherlands to the port of Iskenderun and travelled overland to their current locations. The Netherlands Patriot units received additional enhanced missiles provided by the German Air Force. The Patriot system’s capability is to intercept and destroy Tactical Ballistic Missiles as well as hostile aircraft that are violating the integrity of the Turkish and Alliance airspace.
The Commander Allied Air Forces Southern Europe, Lt.Gen. Glen W. Moorhead
III, USAF, will exercise command and control over NATO air defence assets
currently deployed in Turkey through the Commander of Combined Air Operation
Center 6, LtGen. Faruk Comert, Turkish Air Force. CINCSOUTH is the Joint
Force Commander for this deployment.
Two NATO E3A AWACS aircraft deployed to their Forward Operating Base at Konya, Turkey last week, where they started routine peacetime surveillance flights on 26 February 2003. The Alliance presence is purely to contribute to the defence of one of its members, Turkey, in accordance with its obligations under the North Atlantic Treaty. Additional information:
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