Deployed Falcon at Beauvechain

The audit will consist of 3 main topics: operations, logistics and protection. Most important are the flight operations, is the Belgium Air Component capable to deploy a number of F-16s (the exact number of aircraft is classified) from a remote airbase? But besides the operations it must also be possible to maintain these operations for a longer time (this duration is classified), so the logistics of the exercise will be audited. 3rd item for the audit is the force protection, will the deployed force be able to protect itself against threads like air attacks and ground attacks (e.g. snipers).

During the 2009 NRF evaluation, the Deployed Falcon exercises are organized by the nearby Florennes airbase. The Beauvechain airbase was chosen because it is not operating F-16s anymore; it is only used by training aircraft of the Belgium Air Component. Therefore all logistics involved in the deployment had to be transferred to the base. The aircraft, the armament, the spare parts, the personnel, the tents, the kitchens; everything needed for a long time deployment abroad.

NRF
Until the1990’s the NATO consisted of a defensive force, to protect the NATO countries against foreign attacks. After the breakdown of the Berlin Wall, the NATO transformed into a peacekeeping force. Sometimes into an offensive force, like during the Kosovo conflict. In 2002, the NATO decided to initiate the NATO Response Force (NRF), to maintain a mobile force (consisting of land, sea and air forces) that could be deployed all over the world within a few days notice. The NATO Response Force (NRF) became already operational after 1 year in 2003.

Its characteristics
“High readiness, deployability, sustainability and jointness, i.e., composed of land, maritime and air elements, are the main characteristics of this force created to conduct operations when and where necessary, as decided by the North Atlantic Council.”

Its missions:
“The NRF’s main missions are those requiring the ability to react with the most capable forces in a very short time. The missions of the NRF will mirror primarily the requirements of rapid response in the initial phase of a crisis situation deployed as a stand-alone force for crisis response.” In 2006, the Belgium Air Component passed the NRF audit criteria except for 1 non-compliancy, regarding the protections against chemical attacks. The chemical protection will be one of the key items during the Deployed Falcon exercises, in order to pass the audits on this topic as well.

After passing the audit, the Belgium F-16s aims to become a full compliant part of NRF 13 during the second half of 2009.

While the Dutch Air Force has dedicated 1 squadron (323 squadron at Leeuwarden) to the NRF, the Belgium Air Component has a combined F-16 force assigned to NRF. This F-16 force consist of F-16’s from both Florennes airbase and Kleine-Brogel airbase.

Training
During Deployed Falcon, the 8 deployed Belgium F-16s will perform several types of missions: Air-to-Air missions, Air-to-Ground missions and Recconnaissance missions. 6 F-16’s will fly in Air-to-Air missions and the Air-tot-Ground missions, while 2 F-16s are dedicated toe the Recce missions. 600 persons are deployed to Beauvechain airbase, while all persons work in a 12 hour on and a 12 hour off shift during the exercise. They live, work and sleep on the Beauvechain airbase; and they all sleep in large tents on the southern part of the base. The northern part of the airbase was dedicated as Operations zone (OPS zone), where all the 8 F-16’s were located.

On Tuesday January 27th, 2009, a Media Day was organized by the Belgium Air Component. LtCol (Pilot) Pascal July (callsign ‘SCALLE’) of the Belgium “Directorate of Plans, Analyses and Evaluations” briefed the media representatives. Due to heavy, freezing fog, no air operations took place that day, the colorstate remained RED the whole day. After nightfall, some ‘artistic’ photos could be made of F-16’s lit by huge lights.

Acknowledgments: LtCol (Pilot) Pascal July (‘SCALLE’), Adj-Chief DeWael and Adj Tamigniaux.

All photo's:
G.J.A. van Boven
H.P.A.M van Eupen
© Sentry Aviation News