Ramstein Airbase: the largest international collaboration
Located in the state of Rhineland-Pfalz in Germany, Ramstein Airforce Base is one of the most important strategic locations for NATO. Situated in the district of Kaiserslautern, this is a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) installation and air base of the US Air Force (USAF). The US Air Forces headquarters in Europe (USAFE) is also the Ramstein
This airbase is also part of Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC), which is one of the largest US community having armed personnel, contractors and their families residing outside the US and the Department of Defence (DOD) civilians. Around 47,000 US citizens including dependents, army, and the USAF service members resides in the KMC house.
The base initially was designed by the French engineers and was later constructed by the Germans. From the time it began its operation in the year 1953, the base operations are done by the US still retains its tradition of international collaboration.
History
The French Army and the US Army Corps of Engineers from the year 1949 to 1952 were involved in the construction of the air base which was project designed and undertaken by the French mainly. It was the perfect example of international collaboration. Wherein the French would design with the help of its engineers, and the Germans would do the construction with the help of imported help from the workers of Greece, Italy, Turkey, Spain and Portugal and would finally be operated by the Americans. There were also very few German men who would work on the construction projects after the World War II.
The area had to be built up by two meters which are almost six feet as the entire area was a swamp. With agreement from the US and French Occupational Forces, a train line was laid down from Einsiedlerhof-Kaiserslautern. This was in the shape of a yoke and was around the current base and backed down till the Landstuhl spur in 1948. Trainloads pf mud were removed from the line and was all spread over the current area of the base to raise it to its present level. Once the ground was level, construction of the buildings began. There were two bases which were laid out. The Landstuhl Air Base was on the south side and the Ramstein Air Station was to the north. It was the largest spot construction site in the whole of Europe right from the year it started which is 1948 until the opening of the bases in the year 1953. Over 270,000 Europeans were employed at one time.
Ramstein air force base history
The construction began in the year 1951 by the French and the German firms of the 3,000 acre Ramstein air force base. It was near Kaiserslautern and was a part of the Franco-American reciprocal agreement provisions. It was completed in the year 1953 and was built as two separate bases- namely Landstuhl and Ramstein.
The Landstuhl was an operational fighter base which had hangars, ramps, runways and air traffic control tower and other related facilities. Besides this, The Ramstein base was taken as the head office of the Twelfth Air Force and the NATO. Various facilities like family housing, schools, administration offices, Base Exchange (BX) and commissary were included in it.
In the year1957, the two bases decided to be combined to form the largest NATO controlled air base in the Europe which was later known as the Ramstein-Landstuhl Airbase, and this was renamed in ten the year 1958.
86th Fighter Interceptor Wing was based at the Ramstein Base in the year 1954. Later on, the wing was transferred to the Zweibruckenairbase situated in Germany. Also, a new 377 combat support wing was activated in ten the year 1985, and this was responsible for the logistic operation and the admiration on the base. Also in the year 1991, the 315th Air Division which was activated as a centralizing authority atRamstein in 1985 was deactivated.
Also, the headquarters of the USAF was later on moved from the Wiesbaden airbase to Ramstein during March 1973. It was at this time that the USAF had started the expansion of the base and had become one of the largest American community outside of the US.
Ramstein was initially designed to be a NATO command base from the time it was constructed. Also, NATO had operated various underground combat operations centreinKindsbach near Ramstein the time of Cold War from 1947 to 91. The operations were called as the Air Defense Operations Center (ADOC) or the Kindsbach Cave.
Ramstein air force base design and construction
The Ramstein air base had undergone a massive expansion during the year 2004-2006. The main agenda was to construct a new passenger terminal, taxiways, two aircraft parking ramps and also runway. This expansion was part of the $465 million Rhein-Main a Transition program which had started in the year of December 1999. The Rhein-Main air base was shut for executing the program in theyearDecember 2005, and 70% of the operations were transferred to the Ramstein air base and around 30% of the Spangdahlem air base.
Right next to the Ramstein air base’s main runway a new Kaiserslautern Military Community Centre (KMCC) has been constructed. It was opened in September 2009 and was built in three phases. The huge KMCC includes an eight-storey hotel along with visitor’s quarters, 350 rooms, restaurants, rooftop patio, movie theaters, shopping spaces and also a sports lounge.
Garrison facilities
Host unit of the base is the 86th Airlift Wing. The NATO Allied Air Component Command Headquarters, which is named as the CC-Air HQ Ramstein, was built in the Ramstein Airbase. Commander of the 86th Airlift Wing serves as the commander of the Kaiserslautern Military Community, the KMC.
Airlift, aeromedical operations, and airfield are some of the missions of the 86th Airlift Wing. The aero medical operations are done by operating C-130 J, C-21, C-40B, C-20H and C-37 aircraft. Providing expeditionary combat support along with rapid mobility for military operations in the KMC and are few of the operations it conducts.
The RamsteinAirbase is also home to the 17th Air Force which is U Air Forces Africa, USAFE’s first wing- the support to the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing,battlefield airmen, Third Air Force (3AF) headquarters. It is also the home to 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing which provides command and control along with route maintenance support for strategic air mobility missions in the middle east, Europe and Africa. It also provides air transportation services.
Ramstein air facilities
In the year 2008, a C-130 J model hangar was constructed at the base for new aircraft. The base has several hangars, an air traffic control tower, Ramos and various other facilities. Besides, the RamsteinAirbase has two runways which are surfaced with asphalt 08/26 of 2,195m Nd 09/27 of 2,347m.
Airbase protection / security
The USAF in the year May 2010 had called for bidders to ensure the safety at the Ramstein air base especially for theAir Mobility Command’s passenger terminal. The company is known to be screening around 750 military and dependent travelers every day. They will also be responsible for the 24/7 monitoring of the alarm room surveillance and access control. Pond Security Services is the current contractor for security at the Ramstein air base.
Ramstein base technology
In the year 2010, Rockwell Collins was awarded a $9.1m three-year contract as to provide the field service support and also helps maintain satellite communications teleport in the air base. The teleport is the one which provides various military communications and is the main center of the Defence Information Systems Agency (DISA).
Other air force base facilities
There are other services available at the Ramstein air force base, and those include a BX, restaurants, entertainment, a post exchange (PX), recreation activities, libraries, banking. Apart from this, the largest AAFES shopping center in all of the-the Europe is situated on this base. Also, Department of Defence Dependent Schools (DoDDS) operating 11 schools is located in the KMC. You will also find other educational facilities including five colleges and universities here. Rammstein has been set up with various recreational facilities, wellness centers, health centers, an Aeroclub, swimming pools, a skate park and also an 18 hole golf course. NCO and an officer’s club has been set up inside the base. Besides this, a new dormitory complex with 128 rooms is also being constructed at the base.
It is, therefore, one of the most important airbases in the world.