NOMAD Exercise

(North Sea Range operation for mutual Air Defense)

Gallery Article by Daniel Butcher on Nov 26 2003

 

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. 

 

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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

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Photos and text © by Daniel Butcher