Electronic Live Warfare Training Exercise Ten years after ist first edition in 1995 ELITE (Electronic Warfare Live Training Exercise) is still going strong. Organized by the German Luftwaffe this years exercise involved participants from 19 countries that are mainly based in southern Germany around the Heuberg training range south of Stuttgart. The main base for the involved aircraft is Lagerlechfeld, home of the German ECR Tornados, which hosted this year as well Greek and Turkish F-16s, Italian ECR Tornados and, for the very last time, Swedish Sk37E Viggens and a Saab 340 ERIEYE AEW aircraft.
What? ELITE Exercise Where? Southern Germany When? June 2005
From the nearby Neuburg base several Phantoms of all the different German squadrons were based as well as Spanish Mirage F.1, Belgian F-16s and the GFD and FRA Learjets and Falcons. More foreign aircraft participation involved also Swiss and Finish Hornets in Dübendorf. Besides the more than 70 jets helicopters and transport aircraft like C-160s from Germany and a Polish Casa 295 were involved as well. The aim of the ELITE exercise is to develop and test new tactics under realistic threats. To reach this goal numerous ground-air missiles were placed on the Heuberg range. These constisted not only of western types like the Patriot, Roalnd or Rapier missiles, but also of SA-6 and SA-7 that were used by the participating Czech and Polish forces. After a detailed daily planning and coordination several COMAO hit the aerial defence at the Heuberg range that prepared demanding scenarios and took the chance to reevaluate its tactics. The operations consisted for example of Viggens that circeled the area providing ECM support for low flying HARM-equipped ECR Tornados , all being protected by the F-18s against the 'enemy' Phantoms. Other scenarios were trained by the helicopter crews when two Bo 105 escorted a Dutch Cougar or low flying CH-53 that penetrated the range under threats resulting and huge amounts ao flares and chaff being ejected.
What? ELITE Exercise
From the nearby Neuburg base several Phantoms of all the different German squadrons were based as well as Spanish Mirage F.1, Belgian F-16s and the GFD and FRA Learjets and Falcons. More foreign aircraft participation involved also Swiss and Finish Hornets in Dübendorf. Besides the more than 70 jets helicopters and transport aircraft like C-160s from Germany and a Polish Casa 295 were involved as well.
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