Exercise “Oskar 2013” in the Zemunik Air Base
The Ffixed-wing Aircraft Squadron of the 93rd Croatian Air Force and Air Defence Base on 5 December 2013 conducted the exercise titled “Oskar 2013”, demonstrating the preparedness of the Squadron for the air target interception and identification tasks.
The Exercise, conducted in the Ogulin-Lošinj-Zemunik triangle by over a half of the Squadron and four PC-9M aircraft and one ZLIN 242-L, and supported by the Air Space Surveillance and Control Battalion, has been the first of the kind carried out in the 93rd Base.
It entailed verification of flight training, evaluation of the pilot preparedness and demonstration of the characteristics and PC-9M usability for tactical and interception purposes by the parametres of altitude, speed and distance.
„Oskar 2013“ was conducted in three different scenarios aiming to create dynamic conditions ensuring realistic starting positions to apply the prescribed procedures for interception.
The Squadron commander, Maj. Željko Harapin, stressed that the Exercise was designed in the course of the regular pilot training activities, consulting the experiences and contacts with pilots from partner countries and the reference materials on air interception.
The Fixed-Wing Aircraft Squadron has taken the training in tactical formations and manoeuvres and ground control-supported air interception training since 2010, and in 2012 its programme was expanded with the training in basic air fighting manoeuvres.
The advanced training of the kind demands superior pilot abilities, as well as remarkable situational awareness, command and control, co-operation with the wingmen and thorough understanding of the procedures of aircraft interception and identification.
[nggallery id=1307]Foto: MORH/ M. Karačić,I. Lukan, R.Ribarić