Word: airing
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...weeks ago when it was okayed by a key committee of West Germany's Bundestag. Designed as an airborne command post, AWACS can detect enemy planes from as far away as 400 miles and then coordinate attacks against them. Says General John W. Pauly, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe: "With AWACS, our air defense becomes about 500% more effective...
...base outside Bremen. These are the first U.S. combat units to be permanently stationed in the North German Plain since the Occupation era. In this perfect tank country, through which invaders from the east are expected to come, the U.S. reinforces West German, British and Dutch troops. Some U.S. Air Force squadrons have also moved north onto little-used German bases...
...only are U.S. planes getting into the air faster, but they can fly extra sorties because they are being "turned around" more quickly by ground crews. After extensive practice at reloading and refueling F-4 Phantoms, crews now have the jets ready for takeoff on another mission within 30 minutes, compared with 60 minutes two years ago. More reinforcements sooner. Once hostilities seem imminent or begin, NATO depends on rapid reinforcement from the U.S. In a true blitz, however, resupplies might arrive too late to be of much help. To prevent this, large quantities of equipment earmarked for units that...
Pilots train for about ten hours daily. Part of the time is spent in the classroom discussing new combat techniques and the latest intelligence about Soviet air tactics. Much practicing, however, takes place in the cockpit, either airborne or with a simulator duplicating the flight situation. A new program known as "dissimilar training" teaches U.S. pilots to fly in formation with planes of other NATO members, thus providing a versatility that could prove valuable during an emergency...
Equally important has been the integration of some of the alliance's communications systems. Says one U.S. Air Force general: "Previously, we did not even have proper coordination between ground and air units in case of war. It's hard to believe, but it was true...