KC Warthogs arrive in Europe
As expected and announced by Scramble aerlier, ten KC coded A-10C Thunderbolt IIs have now arrived in Europe for the exercise "Defender 23".
The A-10Cs, assigned to the 303rd Fighter Squadron, part of the 442nd Fighter Wing and homebased at Whiteman AFB (MO), have now split between Zaragoza Air Base (Spain) and Thessaloniki Air Base, adjacent to Thessaloniki-Makedonia's civil airport (Greece).
"Defender 23", is an US Army Europe and Africa-led exercise, supported by US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa and the focus lies on the strategic deployment of Continental United States (CONUS) based forces and interoperability with European allies and partners.
"Defender 23" will take place from 22 April to 23 June and demonstrates the US Air Force’s ability to aggregate US-based combat power quickly in Europe. This, increasing lethality of the NATO Alliance through the US Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE). "Defender 23" includes more than 7,800 US and 15,000 multi-national service members from various Allied and partner nations, including but not limited to: Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States.
The following Air Force Reserve Command KC coded 303rd FS/ 442nd FW "KC Hawgs" are now deployed to Europe: 78-0605, 78-0631, 78-0655, 79-0091, 79-0110, 79-0113, 79-0123, 79-0155, 80-0201 and 80-0237.
Acting as spares at Portsmouth/ Pease International Airport (NH), before crossing the pond to Europe were A-10Cs 79-0118 and 79-0121.
Credit photo: Vincent Vannier / Phoenix Aviation (On Flickr)