NOMAD Exercise |
(North Sea Range operation for mutual Air Defense) |
Gallery Article by Daniel Butcher
on
Nov 26 2003
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Now
in it’s eighth year, the annual exercise NOMAD (North
Sea Range operation for mutual Air Defense) is held at RAF Waddington, due to
the the fact that the North Sea ACMI Range (NSAR) has it’s debriefing
facilities at the station. With 40 aircraft taking part in the exercise, ramp
and airspace are essential, which RAF Waddington has in heaps, being home to a
handful of E-3s and Nimrod R.1 aircraft.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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The
three-week exercise builds in intensity over that period, with the number of
sorties flown ever increasing throughout the duration, and the participating
nations often take the opportunity to swap their aircraft around and give as
many pilots as possible a taste of the exercise. This year, participation was
from 43 Sqn Tornado F.3s, French Air Force Mirage 2000Cs, Belgian Air Force
F-16s, Swiss F-18 Hornets and more Hornets in the form of Spanish Air Force
EF-18s.
As
well as the deployed aircraft, a pair of Mirage 2000Ds act as interdictors, and
ECM is provided by FR Aviation Falcon 20 aircraft, all of which adds up to
provide a realistic warfare environment for the training crews.
For
these photos, I was lucky enough to get inside the base, and had ramp access as
well as spending the afternoon on the threshold. Thanks to all parties involved
for making this possible.
Daniel Butcher
Click on
images below to see larger images
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