F-16 Fighting Falcons and Airmen assigned to the 480th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing, deployed to the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Åask AB, Poland, to participate in and support Aviation Detachment Rotation 20.4 (ADR 20.4). ADR’s are bilateral training exercises and deployments designed to enhance partner interoperability, maintain joint readiness and assure U.S. regional allies. U.S. Air Force Col. David Epperson, 52nd Fighter Wing commander, said during this ADR the 480th EFS will be integrating with Polish partners to support Operation Atlantic Resolve. Epperson said ADR’s are a way for the U.S. to continue building Partnerships and working with Allies. During ADR 20.4, Epperson said they will be working on multiple mission sets.
Polish air force Col. Tomasz Jatczak, 32nd Tactical Air Base commander, said his goals with the ADR 20.4 were to update proficiency from the Polish side and integrate procedures with the U.S. They are going to fly, plan and execute. But now we have two units here at Åask AB. Two units with one mission, which is to improve warfighting skills and joint readiness. Jatczak said he is looking forward to progressing partnerships with the U.S. Integration is the best part about this ADR. They will get a chance to fly together, update theirs procedures, and best of all become better pilots and Airmen.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft are assigned to the 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, and based at the 32nd Tactical Air Base, Åask, Poland, during ADR 20.4. The KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft are assigned to the 126th Air Refueling Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and will be based at the 33rd Airlift Base, Powidz, Poland. In addition, the contractor-owned, contractor-operated (COCO) Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) are assigned to the 52nd Expeditionary Operations Group Detachment 2 at the 12th Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Base, Miroslawiec, Poland.
