CAOC Six, TuAF work side-by-side

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. J. LaVoie
  • 425th Air Base Group Public Affairs
U.S. Forces work side-by-side with counterparts from around the world performing missions vital to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This is especially true at the Combined Air Operations Center Six, which is located in Eskisehir, Turkey.

CAOC Six is a subordinate Command and Control Center of NATO's Allied Air Forces Southern Europe. It conducts air policing, air defense, and interacts with the Turkish Air Force on behalf of NATO.

Under the command of Turkish Air Force Lt. Gen. Bilgin Balanli, CAOC Six deters aggression against NATO Allies and ensures the security and air space integrity of Allied Command Europe. The senior U.S. representation at CAOC Six is Brig. Gen. Anderson and he is joined by 12 other U.S. personnel there.

The multinational staff of CAOC Six includes about 90 people from six NATO nations, including Turkey, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Spain and the U.S.

One of CAOC Six's biggest achievements was NATO's Operation Display Deterrence, which provided for Turkey's air defense after Turkey's call for assistance, under NATO Article 4, due to indications of a credible threat. This was the first, and so far, only, use of Article 4 in the history of NATO.

"During Operation Display Guardian, a supporting operation to NATO's Display Deterrence, CAOC Six performed planning, tasking, and operational execution of air surveillance and air policing (defensive) missions. It also integrated the efforts of augmenting ground-based air defense assets contributed by partner NATO nations," said Maj. Michael Richardson, CAOC Six. "This endeavor was important because it ensured the safety and security of Turkey's sovereign borders, in keeping with Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty."

After a request was made by Turkey, NATO sent surveillance aircraft and missile defenses to help protect Turkey in the event of an attack. CAOC Six had the lead command and control role for air and missile defense.

"We provide for the territorial integrity of NATO member nations for executing command and control of surveillance, monitoring and air policing missions in Turkey, as part of NATO's Southern Region," said Major Richardson.