RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- U.S. Air Force Gen. James B. Hecker, U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa, commander, met with Association of African Air Forces liaison officers from Angola, Cameroon, Ghana and Zambia during the AAAF LNO Planning event, Aug. 26-29, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Hecker is the co-chairman of AAAF, a voluntary, non-political organization focused on collaborative, multilateral engagements to promote African-led air power solutions among 29 African member nations. The weeklong planning event served as the conduit for the upcoming AAAF Working Group, which will be held Sept. 16-20 in Lusaka, Zambia.
During the 2024 African Air Chiefs Symposium, AAAF member nations voted to implement the AAAF exercise series, a tactical means by which the Association operationalizes its goals of developing each African Air Force capacity, capability, and interoperability. Utilizing a three-year exercise cycle, a tabletop exercise will be executed in 2025 to solidify strategies, followed by a flying exercise in 2026. This exercise series will focus on response to a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief scenario.
The AAAF is committed to fostering and strengthening the bonds of friendship, cooperation, collaboration, and mutual support among its members.