Home  /  Newsroom  /  2019  /  AWACS aircraft provide air surveillance support for NATO leaders meeting at London

On December 3 and 4, 2019 the leaders of all 29 NATO members met in London to take decisions to further strengthen and modernise the Alliance as well as to celebrate NATO's 70th anniversary. In support of a successful event AWACS aircraft from NATO’s Airborne Early Warning and Control Force conducted air surveillance missions in the airspace of the United Kingdom, to provide situational awareness.

Our AWACS aircraft are high value assets for the Alliance, contributing vitally to our vigilance and the ability to detect airborne threats and sometimes also, as in this case, to the security of our Leaders Meetings.

NATO AWACS routinely patrol the skies during major events, including meetings of world leaders and other high-profile public events, such as international football tournaments. In support of NATO operations AWACS aircraft can be employed for a variety of tasks, such as airspace surveillance and early detection of airborne threats, providing a radar picture of ongoing activities at sea or the command and control of other NATO air assets. Currently AWACS aircraft are flying missions in support of NATO’s Assurance Measures to its Eastern Allies, of the effort to defeat ISIS as well as of Operation SEA GUARDIAN, a maritime surveillance mission in the Mediterranean to counter terrorism.

A NATO AWACS with special decal for NATO's 70th anniversary takes of from Geilenkirchen Airbase, Germany (symbolic). Photo by Andre Joosten.

A NATO AWACS with special decal for NATO's 70th anniversary taxing at Geilenkirchen Airbase, Germany (symbolic). Photo by Andre Joosten.