AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: APRIL 2009 PROGRAM UPDATE

UNCLAS BOGOTA 001493 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR INL/LP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO SUBJECT: AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: APRIL 2009 PROGRAM UPDATE REF: 2003 STATE 265910 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. This is the monthly Air Bridge Denial (ABD) activity report for April, 2009, as required by Reftel. The Government of Colombia (GOC) sorted 3,408 tracks during April. Three were declared Unknown, Assumed Suspect (UAS). One resulted in a Phase II event with the event ending when the aircraft entered Venezuelan Territory. END SUMMARY. -------------- Tracks -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In April, 2009, there were 3,408 air tracks over Colombia of which three were declared Unknown, Assumed Suspect (UAS). Host Nation responded to all. One was not located. On April 4th, the second one crossed the Guajira Peninsula returning from Central America to Venezuela. An SR-560 and an A-37 were scrambled and intercepted the aircraft as it entered Colombian territory. Phase I was completed. Phase II was authorized, the radio calls and signals were made followed by warning shots, after which the aircraft entered Venezuelan airspace, terminating the event. However, the safety monitor did not notify JIATF-South of the calls having been completed until after the warning shots were made, which prompted an objection from JIATF-South. A training day was held on April 8th, with the event reviewed and briefings emphasizing the importance of safety monitors providing information to JIATF-South on a timely basis. The third UAS was visually identified over the Caribbean on its way from CENTAM, but entered Venezuelan airspace without entering Colombian airspace. -------------- Flight Operations -------------- ¶3. (SBU) In March 2009, the Citations flew 170 hours in 83 sorties with an 80% OR rate. Of the 83 sorties, 15 were for GOC ABD intelligence gathering and patrolling; eight for training; 24 were for maritime patrolling, 4 were in reaction to GOC-provided information, twenty eight for operational support, and four were non-ABD missions. BROWNFIELD