NATO, Poland will join the NATO airborne warning and control system (AWACS) programme later this year. In anticipation of this, a NATO E-3A AWACS aircraft visited Podwidz air base in Poland on 17-18 August. The visit was attended by Polish Defence Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, Chief of the Polish Army General Staff Gen. Franciszek Gagor, Deputy Commander of the Air Force Lieut. Gen. Lech Majewski, the local provincial Governor Tadeusz Dziuba and other representatives of the local authorities.
The aircraft conducted two flights during its visit to Podwidz. On the first day, the Polish Defence Minister and the top military brass were on board. On the second day, Polish general officers from all services were aboard.
Poland will be the 16th nation to join the NATO AWACS programme. It will participate in funding the programme and will contribute personnel to the NATO AWACS Programme Management Agency, the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force Command and the NATO E-3A Component.
AWACS is equipped with a radar dome capable of detecting air traffic at great ranges, including low-flying aircraft over different types of terrain. It can also direct and control air traffic and relay information to friendly aircraft operating in the same area.
NATO AWACS aircraft have helped protect a number of major public events, including the 2006 Football World Cup in Germany and the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.
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