POLAND -- U.S. Air Force and Illinois Air National Guard Airmen and aircraft arrived in Poland to participate in Aviation Detachment Rotation 21.3, a bilateral training exercise with the Polish to enhance partner interoperability, maintain joint readiness, and assure our regional allies.
F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft assigned to the 480th Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, arrived Friday at the 32nd Tactical Air Base, Łask, Poland, and KC-135 aircraft assigned to the 108th Air Refueling Squadron, 126th Air Refueling Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, Scott Air Force Base, Belleville, Illinois, arrived Wednesday at the 33rd Air Base, Powidz, Poland, to provide air-refueling during the training event.
The Aviation Detachment Rotations provide vital integration opportunities with Poland and provide total force training with Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units to ensure interoperability.
“Aviation Detachment Rotations enhance our strong relationship with our Polish allies,” said Gen. Jeff Harrigian, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa commander. “Regularly training together improves our collective readiness and ensures our rapid response capability, which is essential to preserving peace and stability in the region.”
The 52nd Fighter Wing will incorporate Agile Combat Employment concepts when they demonstrate the innovative Viper Hot Refuel Kit during the exercise. This demonstration utilizes host nation refueling equipment to support fifth generation fighters, as well as any U.S. Air Force aircraft, anywhere in the world. The Viper Kit is different from the current Air Force procedures because it mitigates the hazardous cargo requirements from shipping equipment to support hot pit operations.
The ACE concept of operations is intended to ensure USAFE-AFAFRICA forces are ready for potential threats and contingencies by enabling forces to quickly disperse and continue to deliver air power from locations with varying levels of capacity and support.
The ACE concept requires integration with allies, and the combined Polish training increases lethality, enhances interoperability, and builds knowledge of shared responsibilities to counter military aggression.