AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: JULY 2005 PROGRAM UPDATE

UNCLAS BOGOTA 007602 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR INL/LP E.O 12358: N/A TAGS: SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO SUBJECT: AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: JULY 2005 PROGRAM UPDATE REF: 2003 STATE 265910 ¶1. (U) This is the July 2005 Air Bridge Denial (ABD) activity report required by Ref A. There was one Phase II event during this period. ¶2. (SBU) In July 2005, 4884 tracks were sorted over Colombia, of which 33 were declared Unknown, Assumed Suspect (UAS) aircraft. Two of those were identified as friendly. The GOC did not react to 13 UAS: nine of these 13 had old/outdated information, two were near international borders, one was over water, and one was in a weather- covered area. The GOC did react to 18 UAS, but the tracker was unable to locate the UAS in 17 of those responses. One UAS was a Phase II event. Phase II Event -------------- ¶3. (SBU) On July 24th, 2005, ROTHR picked up a track in the Caribbean Sea headed to Colombia. A Citation tracker that was airborne was diverted to meet the aircraft and then relieved by another Citation and an A-37 that were scrambled from Barranquilla. The Citation and A-37 intercepted the aircraft, but it reached the Venezuelan frontier before disabling shots could be fired. ¶4. (SBU) Based on the review of the July 24 event, Post recommended to the Colombian Air Force that additional training be provided to the aircrews, battle managers, and safety monitors on formation join-ups and transition from one phase to another to expedite and improve the process. Flight Operations -------------- ¶5. (SBU) In July 2005, the Citations flew 192 hours in 73 sorties with an operational readiness of 96 percent. Of the 73 sorties, 50 were for GOC ABD intelligence gathering and patrolling, five for reaction to USG asset information, five for reaction to GOC asset information, seven for training, and six for operational support. ¶6. (U) The next ABD In Progress Review will be August 31 at Bogota, Colombia. WOOD