European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 18, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday August 18, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 9 the persian quit crisis la mhpbhvbhmpmbbb1 t. _ Magacs allies Eye in the sky by David Tarrant Brussels bureaus a map Brussels Belgium shortly after president Bush warned Iraq that a line has been drawn in the Sand he sent Over a few airborne warning and control system planes to keep an Eye on that line. Among the first . Forces rushed to saudi Arabi after the aug. 2 iraqi invasion of Kuwait were five Azacs Crews that Are now helping track iraqi ground and air forces threatening other persian Gulf nations. Nato s airborne Early warning Force which has18 Azacs based in Geilenkirche West Germany see map on this Page has so far been prevented from using its planes in the Gulf. Nato s charter prohibits the Alliance from operating militarily outside european North America. However the Alliance s Forward operating Azacs base at Konya Turkey could be used should Iraq which Borders Turkey try to launch a Surprise attack against the nato country. A spokesman for the Azacs base in Geilenkirche said one or two of the planes Are now in Turkey on routine missions. We re always there he said. Although the planes have the capability of looking Over the turkish Iraq Border the spokesman would not comment on whether they Are being used for that purpose. As the Western Alliance responds to the first Post cold War threat nato s Azacs is also starting to take on new challenges. An Azacs spokesman recently predicted that the radar planes that have been watching nato s cold War Borders would begin to take on broader responsibilities. Here s Why As nato forces become smaller and More to bile they will become increasingly reliant on Advance warning and surveillance that Azacs aircraft can provide. Nato May also use the radar to provide another Way to verify arms control treaties. The planes can Monitor armed forces subject to the treaties and help keep track of any unusual or illegal military activity. With its ability to own Tor airspace deep across Borders from a Safe distance inside nato Borders Thea was Force provides additional Security to such nato regions and nations As Turkey and Norway which Border potentially hostile neighbors. We re becoming More important. Our role is enhancing nato s ability in the future said . Maj. Ted Filzen a spokesman for the Force at Geilen Kir Chen. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. This Means to give an Edge against a Surprise  but Filzen also said that for the time being away planes Are continuing their primary Mission of monitoring soviet activity. As Long As we have that con Cern As Long As we have the strongest military Power in the world across the Border we re going to stay he  e-3a Azacs with their familiar Saucer shaped Antenna perched on a Pedestal atop the air Craft have become an integral part of the Western Alliance defense since the base was established 10 years ago. Air Force men and women make up the Crews of . Azacs aircraft deployed in saudi Arabia. Here a saudi government representative is met by two Crew members thursday aboard the plane. In the 1970s, nato determined that its ground based radar systems were having trouble catching air Craft flying at very Low Levels. The studies gave birth tothe idea of using airborne surveillance systems that could detect Low flying aircraft at a great distance. The Azacs radar sits on top of a heavily modified Boeing 707 Airliner. The e-3as Are manned by International Crews from 11 nato nations operating out of the main base at Geilenkirche. At any Given time 12 Azacs aircraft Are in Geilenkirche and the other six at Forward deployed bases. Besides Turkey other Forward operating bases Are located in Italy Greece and Norway. When operating at an Altitude of about 30,000 feet the aircraft s rotating radar can continually scan a120,000-Square-mile Patch of the Earth s surface. That Means a plane flying Over Frankfurt West Ger Many can pick up the License plates on automobiles from Berlin to  radar controllers supplement the work of ground based controllers monitoring air traffic. The aircraft s radar is Able to look Down and separate mov ing targets from other stationary ground clutter that can confuse ground based radar systems. In addition it can detect and track Low flying enemy aircraft and give directions to Friendly aircraft operating in the same area. Although it carries no weapons to protect itself the radar s Range offers Protection to the aircraft with flight Speed of approximately 500 Mph. Which does not put it among the speedier aircraft around. The ability to escape is enhanced by the distance the radar can Sec. They can spot an enemy plane very far away Filzen said. The 18 nato Azacs aircraft Fly about 3,000 Sor ties a year and provide support for about 80 different military exercises throughout nato. They also have the capability for providing focused 24-hour coverage of a hot spot. After . Plane bombed Libya in 1986, for example Italy asked Lor and received coverage from the Azacs for two week when Libya threatened the nation with retaliatory at tack. The International makeup of the 2,500 military Anil civilian workforce in Geilenkirche places the base atthe leading Edge of nato s new look which Calls for increasing use of multinational forces. Such an operation is not without its challenges. For the multinational Crews that Man the aircraft englishes the official language and Many Crew members need to take Brush up language courses. The language is English on duty said Filen. But off duty it s As varied As the shoulder  Gulf Force Cost estimate released . Puts Price fag at $1.18 billion through  i to i i 11 i i i .,.,.4 to 4k 1 1 i i f i  a i / j i if v i Washington a the deploy ment of . Air ground and naval forces in defense of saudi Arabia will Cost $1.18 billion through september the Pentagon said thursday. No estimate was Given Tor costs beyond next month. The deployment called operation de Sert shield began aug. 8. Two Days alter president Bush ordered . Forces to head for saudi Arabia to guard against a possible iraqi invasion. The army is taking the biggest chunk of the $1.18 billion Cost. Its deployment of ground troops supported by Airor Alwill Cost $750.million through septem Ber the Navy s Bill comes to $230 Mil lion and the air Force s is $200 million. Pete Williams the chief Pentagon spokesman said defense Secretary Dick Cheney had no immediate comment Onishe Cost estimates which Williams said arc preliminary and do not include $120million in increased fuel costs due to higher Oil prices. The is. In billion estimate also does not include the costs that would be incurred if hush decides to Call up Reserve forces for Active duty. The Pentagon gave this partial break Down of the total Cost through sept. 30 $294 million for transport of cargo by commercial and government air rail. Activation and deployment of additional transport ships Cost $74 million. Imminent danger and family separa Tion pay totals $50 million. Use of Volunteer Reserve units for Airlift Tanker refuelling and cargo handling Cost $12 million. Activation and deployment of two Hospital ships Cost $ 10 million. $25 million for medical supplies. Chemical protective equipment at a Cost of $56 million. I he announcement said costs beyond sept. 30 could not be est Mizied because the Sie and composition of the armed forces in desert shield Ami Ohmi level it activity arc still evolve