50 Years of NATO Allied Air Command

On June 28, 1974, NATO stood up its first Air headquarters at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, to establish coordination, command and control of Allied air forces in the then Central Region during Cold War times. The leadership and staff marked this anniversary, in a short ceremony held at Headquarters Allied Air Command 50 years later on June 28, 2024.

“Today - 50 years later – not only has the number of nations represented at Allied Air Command expanded, but so too has our mission. In its modern form, AIRCOM is responsible for Command and Control, Integrated Air and Missile Defence, and Cyber and Space Operations, as well as the Deterrence and Defence of NATO Territory through the projection of Air Power,” said General James B. Hecker on this occasion.

“For 50 years, the Allied Air Command team has proven we are flexible and innovative, ready to defend the Alliance and to provide Air and Space Power more effectively and efficiently. We adapted through modernization of fighter fleets from third, fourth and now fifth generation aircraft, readily integrating powerful new capabilities into our plans and concepts for Alliance defence,” General Hecker said.

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[dirk]

I served with AAFCE, AIRCENT and AIRNORTH from 1991 till 2002