Skywatcher: Αφιέρωμα του Air International στην δράση των ελληνικών ΑΣΕΠΕ στη Λιβύη

Το τελευταίο τεύχος του Air International φιλοξενεί ένα εξόχως ενδιαφέρον αφιέρωμα στην επιχειρησιακή δράση της 380 Μοίρας ΑΣΕΠΕ "Ουρανός" κατά τη διάρκεια των Νατοϊκών επιχειρήσεων στη Λιβύη. Ακολουθεί ένα απόσπασμα του εν λόγω άρθρου (γράφει ο Kirk Paloulian) (σημ  Κυριάκος Παλουλιάν):

Operations
During the night of March 31-April 1, 2011, the HAF EMB-145H undertook its first OUP mission providing ΑWACS/AEW coverage to CAOC 5 of traffic in Libyan airspace. The aircraft flew in racetrack patterns from areas over the Mediterranean, south-west of Crete, to 120km (75 miles) north-northwest of Benghazi. During these missions the aircraft operated adjacent to and south of the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) and within the JOA – both shared a common border to the southwest of Crete.

The EMB-145H supported efforts to suppress Libyan Arab Air Force (LARAF) fighter activity. The eastern holding areas in which it operated were in range of the LARAF SA-5 Gammon surface-to-air missile (SAM) positions, which were shown to crews on the latest information briefing cards.
There was only one instance when the EMB-145H tracked an active SA-5 site, although it also tracked the positions of mobile, smaller-range antiaircraft batteries such as SA-2 Guideline, SA-3 Goa, SA-6 Gainful and SA-8 Geckos. In this way the EMB-145H formed part of the coalition’s suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD) and electronic warfare (EW) network to neutralize any threats. From intelligence reports, reconnaissance assets and electronic support measures (ESM) it became clear that SEAD was successful and LARAF fighter activity was minimised.

Surveillance Targets
In addition to SEAD and ESM, the EMB-145H also performed air surveillance, ocean surface picture (SURPIC), defensive counter air (DCA), offensive counter air (OCA) and close air support (CAS) and reconnaissance, undertaking track relays of airborne and surface targets via its Link 11/Link 16 datalinks. It was also ordered by CAOC 5 to direct CAP fighters to visually identify LARAF fighters and helicopters.

An example of the EMB-145H’s use as an air surveillance relay came when it tracked LARAF helicopters operating in the areas of Al Jambijia, Benina, Misrata and Sirte. There happened to be a slow mover in one of these areas and the air surveillance/helicopter mode in the EMB-145H’s systems identified it as an Mi-8/Mi-17 – the system can pick up a rotor even when a helicopter is hovering. The HAF mission crew tagged the helicopter as a potential target that required visual identification by NATO fighters prior to being shot down, but CAOC 5 gave a negative on the intercept.

MiG Chase
A particularly interesting mission occurred one afternoon when an LARAF MiG-21 took off and headed east towards the border with Egypt. As there was no indication of its intentions, the EMB-145H flew alongside, keeping a 150km (80nm) lateral distance from it. The MiG-21 altitude varied between 2,000ft and 5,000ft (610m-1,524m) and gave no IFF read out. The HAF fighter allocator directed a pair of French Air Force Mirage 2000-5Fs to chase it. The MiG-21 was not intercepted by the French fighters and was assumed to have landed at a forward operating base in the southern desert. The EMB-145H provided tracking throughout this chase.

Command & Control
The EMB-145H was also used for operational control. It provided ESM for coalition air-refuelling aircraft, which included a Turkish Air Force KC-135R and four Turkish F-16Cs during day and nighttime missions. The EMB-145H crew relayed the exact position of the Turkish aircraft to other land-based and airborne C2 units. Working alongside E-3 AWACS the aircraft also relayed the recognised air and surface pictures, and any suspected air traffic. On a few occasions, in place of an E-3 AWACS, the EMB-145H was tasked to provide C2 by relaying and receiving geographical co-ordinates of suspected SAM sites and other convoys.

Additionally it worked alongside air traffic control cells in the allocation of civil air traffic flows in the vicinity, including assisting with ATC coverage for aircraft carrying humanitarian aid into Libya. The last OUP mission flown by 380 AEW Squadron took place on October 30, 2011. All four of the squadron’s aircraft had participated in the NATO air campaign.


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The integration of the EMB-145H in OUP was deemed a great success. The commander of the CAOC at Izmir, USAF Lt Gen Ralph Jodice, an ex-F-15 Eagle pilot, visited 380 AEW Squadron in Souda to congratulate the HAF crews. In total the detachment took part in 170 missions. Only one was cancelled – and that was due to the weather conditions in Souda. The EMB-145Hs that participated in the missions logged 980 flight hours. The lessons learnt from this operation have proved to be most valuable as was the experience gained working in foreign airspace.

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