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| USAFE-AFAFRICA | |
|---|---|
| Name | United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa |
| Active | 1942–present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Major Command |
| Garrison | Ramstein Air Base |
| Notable commanders | General Jeffrey L. Harrigian, General James G. Roudebush, General Frank Gorenc |
USAFE-AFAFRICA
United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa is the numbered air force and component command of the United States European Command and the United States Africa Command responsible for air operations, theater security cooperation, and logistics across the European and African theaters. It conducts bilateral and multilateral activities with NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and partner nations such as Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The command interfaces with global organizations including the United Nations, European Union, and defense institutions like the NATO Allied Command Operations.
The command traces origins to the United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe, evolving through post‑World War II restructuring that involved the Berlin Airlift, the Korean War, and Cold War consolidations such as the NATO Airborne Early Warning initiatives. During the Cold War, USAFE engaged in deterrence and forward basing with ties to events like the Cuban Missile Crisis and the deployment patterns reflected in the Four Power Agreement on Berlin. Post‑1990 transformations followed the German reunification and interventions including the Gulf War, Operation Provide Comfort, and the Bosnian War with operations linked to Operation Deliberate Force and Operation Allied Force. In the 21st century the command expanded to support operations including Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Unified Protector, and counter‑terrorism collaborations with African partners following crises such as the Libyan Civil War and engagements in the Sahel associated with Operation Barkhane partners.
USAFE‑AFAFRICA’s mission aligns with theater objectives articulated by United States European Command and United States Africa Command, emphasizing air superiority, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and logistic sustainment for allies including NATO members and partners in the African Union. Key roles include aerospace power projection, crisis response exemplified by responses to the Kosovo War and humanitarian missions linked to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami responses by allied airlift, theater missile defense cooperation involving systems interoperable with Patriot (missile) batteries and integrated air and missile defense exercises like BALTOPS and Red Flag. The command supports security cooperation through training exchanges with institutions such as the Air Command and Staff College and the Royal Air Force College Cranwell and participates in multinational exercises such as European Air Transport Command activities.
The command headquarters is located at Ramstein Air Base and incorporates numbered air forces, wings, groups, and squadrons comparable to structures in Air Combat Command and Air Mobility Command. Components include expeditionary wings that coordinate with regional commands like Allied Air Command and liaison relationships with national militaries including the French Air and Space Force, German Air Force, and Italian Air Force. Staff directorates interact with agencies such as the Defense Intelligence Agency and logistics partners like the Defense Logistics Agency. The organizational model supports deployable command and control elements for operations similar to those run by United States Central Command and interoperable planning with NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
Major wings and bases under the command encompass installations such as Ramstein Air Base, Spangdahlem Air Base, Aviano Air Base, RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, Incirlik Air Base, Naval Support Activity Naples, Camp Darby, Kadena Air Base, and forward operating sites across Balkans and African locations. Units include fighter, mobility, refueling, reconnaissance, and rescue squadrons similar to those in 4th Fighter Wing, 31st Fighter Wing, 86th Airlift Wing, 601st Air Operations Center elements, and expeditionary groups that conducted sustainment missions during operations like Operation Silver Fist and multilateral exercises such as Saber Strike.
Operational history spans airlift and close air support missions during the Yugoslav Wars, enforcement of no‑fly zones such as Operation Deny Flight, strike and suppression missions in Operation Allied Force, and expeditionary logistics in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Humanitarian and disaster relief operations include support to Hurricane Katrina relief and evacuation operations during the Libyan civil unrest. The command has supported counter‑terrorism and partner capacity building in Africa tied to efforts against groups linked with the Islamic State and Al-Shabaab, coordinating with multinational coalitions and partner forces such as those from Mali, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Kenya.
Personnel include officers, enlisted airmen, and civilian specialists who train through programs with institutions like the United States Air Force Academy, the NATO Defence College, and national air forces including the Hellenic Air Force. Training encompasses flying hours in platforms associated with Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle, General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, and air mobility in Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, Boeing C-130 Hercules, along with survival and tactics courses resembling Red Flag and Green Flag training models. Exchanges and joint exercises involve partner units from Germany, France, United Kingdom, Poland, Romania, and Spain.
USAFE‑AFAFRICA fields a mix of combat aircraft, intelligence platforms, aerial refueling tankers, and airlift assets including F-35 Lightning II, F-22 Raptor, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, A-10 Thunderbolt II, C-17 Globemaster III, C-130 Hercules, KC-135 Stratotanker, KC-46 Pegasus, and ISR platforms like RQ-4 Global Hawk and RC-135 Rivet Joint. Airlift and tanker capabilities enable expeditionary sustainment in collaboration with NATO assets such as A400M Atlas and allied tankers from European Air Transport Command. Air defense integration leverages systems interoperable with AN/TPY-2 radars and NATO command and control architectures including Link 16 and combined air operations centers modeled after Combined Air Operations Centre 5.
Category:United States Air Force in Europe