Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1467328
AND Italian KC767A (Pratica di Mare 14th Wing) it is possible for the NATO fighters to conduct continuous, 24/7 CAP duty. Some nations find that approach preferable, due to operational and logistical reasons. The British Typhoons, supported by Voyager, operate both out of Akrotiri (in the Black Sea region), as well as RAF Coningsby. It is a similar story when it comes to German and French assets (Mont Marsan BA118, Rafales) - appearing over Poland with a gas station of their own. The publicized photos also show the USAF F-35As, during CAP missions, not carrying the RCS- enhancing „reflectors" - which means that the situation is very serious. The presence of the 69th Bomber Squadron (5th Bomber Wing, MT tail code) B-52Hs that have been based in Fairford since early January is another, clear signal, for the Allies, and Russia as well. They fly their sorties with a callsign „HATE". The aircraft usually fly over Europe and the Middle East, as it usually happens during the Bomber Task Force operation. However, an unusual event happened as well, as one of the aircraft landed in Eastern Europe. The aircraft spent a few hours in Ostrava - the B-52s used to visit this airport frequently during the NATO Days air show. Hence the selection that was done here. Shortly after it left for the UK. One should also mention the large numbers of allied helicopters, deployed to the NATO Eastern Flank. This is also where the Americans are leading the way - first deploying an unspecified number o f 8 2 n d C o m b a t A v i a t i o n B r i g a d e UH-60M and CH-47F helos (under the 82nd Airborne) to South-Eastern Poland (where those assets are stationed, remains unclear)m followed by 20 AH-64E Apache Guardians from the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade (it is an autonomous unit, not subordinated to any division). Then, the US Army also deployed extra 12 Apache helicopters from the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade. AVIATION