US Air Forces in Europe “currently operates a limited number” of airborne intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance assets, so it has “aggressively pursued” working with allies who have such capabilities, says Army Gen. John Craddock, Supreme Allied Commander Europe and head of US European Command. Craddock told lawmakers last week during testimony on the 2008 defense budget that last year USAFE “almost doubled its traditional intelligence exchanges.” He stated in written testimony that USAFE had participated in 438 security cooperation events in 61 countries.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.