FORT JOHNSON, La. -- The Western Air Defense Sector’s 225th Air Defense Squadron deployed two Battle Management Teams (BMT) to support exercise Falcon Hawk 24 to Louisiana and Mississippi, May 30, 2024.
Falcon Hawk 24 is a Continental NORAD Region (CONR) sponsored exercise which provided a regional and joint live-fly exercise that enabled NORAD operational and tactical forces to establish Agile Combat Employment (ACE) and Multi-Capable Airman (MCA) capabilities.
The WADS BMT’s deployed to two non-standard operating locations to execute command and control during the live fly exercise with F-16s, F-15s, KC-135, and Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Cessna C-182s. During the exercise, BMT’s operated out of the Radar Approach Control (RAPCON) building at Maks Army Airfield, Fort Johnson, La., and the Mississippi Air National Guard’s 255th Air Control Squadron’s control and reporting center (CRC) in Gulfport, Miss.
The BMT’s enforced temporary flight restrictions, intercepted multiple CAP Cessna target aircraft, utilizing cloud-based command and control (CBC2) and the Federal Aviation Administration’s Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS).
“In past ACE exercises, WADS has tested the BMT concept only on the Oregon and Washington coast,” explained Maj. Trent Farmer, 225th ADS air battle manager and BMT exercise team lead. “What makes this exercise different is the BMTs operating out of a RAPCON and an Air National Guard’s CRC. WADS will continue to expand its ability to deploy BMTs to austere and unpredictable locations that don’t typically possess the capabilities, equipment, and facilities to perform the Operation Noble Eagle mission.”