Trial Mace TESTING NATO'S ELECTRONIC COUNTERMEASURES

摘要

ROM JULY 1 to 12, aircraft from the UK, Denmark, Poland, Belgium and Spain participated in Trial MACE XV. Running on an ad-hoc basis since 1978, MACE is a series of NATO aircraft electronic warfare trials, and the aim of MACE XV was to continue the development of radio frequency countermeasures (RFCM) and tactics to enhance aircraft capability, and survivability, in hostile RF environments against both existing and emerging threats. Week one saw Royal Air Force Chinook HC2, Royal Navy Sea King HC4 and Lynx HMA8 helicopters, together with an RAF C-130J Hercules, operating against threats on the Electronic Warfare Tactics Range at RAF Spadeadam in Cumbria, and at nearby Brunton Airfield. They were joined by Royal Danish Air Force F-16AM Fighting Falcons flying from their home base of Skrydstrup. The second week saw activity ramping up with an influx of aircraft and 140 personnel to RAF Leeming, 60 miles south-east of Spadeadam. The North Yorkshire station hosted Polish Air Force Block 52+ F-16C/Ds, Belgian F-16A MLUs and Spanish EF2000s, each nation deploying three aircraft. Spain's C-295M transport aircraft also stayed to participate in the trials and a No 41 (R) Squadron Tornado GR4 operated from RAF Coningsby.