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"Daedalus 12" began on the 24th January
2012 until the 28th, demanding intensive air surveillance and security
for the 43st World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
To secure the meeting there was a restricted area in the extent of 25
nautical miles (46 km) established around the village off Davos. This
zone extended from ground level up to a flight level off 20 000 feet (or
approximately 6250 m). Davos being located just 15 kilometres from the
boarder of Vorarlberg Austria a arrangement has been made between
Switzerland and Austria for the control of this part of the restricted
airspace. The Austrian army is providing this defence for the last years
in a exercise with the name "Daedalus" (before "Icarus"). The Daedalus
12 exercise gives the Austrian army the possibility for a air space
defence exercise without the cost of setting up its own airspace
security exercise at a much higher cost.
The Austrian army has had ample training in airspace security operations
in recent years. In operations during the Austrian EU Presidency (first
half of 2006), the visit of U.S. President George W. Bush (June 2006)
and Russian President Vladimir Putin (May 2007), by Pope Benedict XVI.
(September 2007) performed well in all games in Austria with Switzerland
during the European football championship jointly hosted 2008 ("EURO
08"). These operations were conducted for the jet part by the Saab 105
and the leased F-5E Tiger. During this "EURO 08" for the first time the
newly introduced Eurofighter were used for air safety operation. As they
were during the WEF missions in the following years
The main air surveillance system in Austria is the Goldhaube (Golden
Hat), it is operational since 1988, at about the same time as the
introduction into service of the Saab Draken. Nowadays this mission is
chaired between de Eurofighter and the Saab 105. Normally two Saab 105
operating from Linz or two Eurofighter operating from Zeltweg are
permanently held on quick reaction alert to intercept unidentified
aircraft approaching the border. These QRA missions are normally done in
a two week rotating schedule between the two bases.
Goldhaube is a combined military airspace commanding, controlling and
alerting system that uses modern radar equipment to protect Austria’s
airspace against any kind of intruders. The most important Goldhaube
units are located on the summit of Kolomannsberg, Koralpe and Buschberg.
consisting of three fixed military-primary-radar-sites (type "Selenia
RAT-31") on mountain peaks (each along side fixed civil radar's
partially in use), with the highest at the 2.140m high "great Speikkogel"
in the southern part of Austria
All systems are connected
together in the Austrian Einsatzzentrale/Basisraum (EZ/B). This is the
commandcentre and government crisesbunker, located 300m inside a
mountain near the village of Heukareck in the vicinity of St. Johann and
Salzburg. The bunker, known by insiders as "der Berg" (the mountain),
was built in 1977-1982 and houses overall military and civilian
leadership in case of war or crisis.
Although this system is already more than 20 years operational it is
still being under extensive development. Apart from the fix radar
stations and civil aviation radar the system also uses two mobile MRS
units (type "Selenia MRCS-403"), and six deployable TER low-level-radars
(type "Thomson RAC 3D") for better coverage in certain mountainous
areas.
During Daedalus 12 the Austrian army deployed about 1100 men and 25
aircraft and helicopters for the exercise. To cover all speed ranges of
possible fly-in aircraft (small, private aircraft, helicopters,
fast-flying jets ), the Austrian army uses all the different types
available ranging from the of OH-58 "Kiowa" and PC-7 "turbo trainer" to
the Saab 105 OE and Eurofighter. While the Eurofighter and Saab 105
maintain the CAP for the fast movers. The turboprop PC-7 trainers and
OH-58 Kiowa helicopters deal with the ‘slow moving aerial threats’ for
the duration of the Forum.
The Eurofighters flew from Zeltweg air base as did some of the Saab 105.
As has been the case in recent years a detachment of PC-7 aircraft was
stationed at Innsbruck airport. During "Daedalus 12" the Eurofighter for
the first time flew with three drop tanks made possible in the on-going
upgrade program. The use of these extra drop tanks greatly enhanced the
mission duration of the flights.
A helicopter detachment was placed at Hohenems in Voralberg in close
proximity of Davos. The detachment consisted of Augusta Bell 212 and
S-70 "Black Hawk" Helikopters as well as a 24 man ERT A-Element
(Emergency Response Team Air) for a quick response in case of a air
crash.
Other units deployed to Voralberg were 5 mobile Thomson RAC-3D compact
radar positions monitored the airspace in Vorarlberg and Tirol as gap
fillers on the Austrian side of the boarder . As did the Swiss TAFLIR
radar stations in the Swiss part of the no fly zone. The central control
for the exercise was guided from the "Einsatzzentrale Basisraum" in St.
Johann im Pongau.
Combat air patrols were flown daily from 08:00 in de morning till 22:00
in the evening. During our visit to Zeltweg the Saab 105 did one mission
in the morning with the Eurofighter taking care of the rest of the day.
Of the fifteen Eurofighters based at Zeltweg ten took part in de
exercise. Flying missions lasting up to 2.5 hours. In contrast to the
exercise in Switzerland where it is combined with a course for the
militia flying is Austria is much more moderated, but still well worth a
visit.
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