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NATO Day 2001-2005: Exhibition grounds, airport, AWACS and first foreign fighter jets

On the occasion of the NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days 15^th anniversary, we are starting a series of articles that will look back at all of the previous 15 editions, divided into five-year periods. In 2001 to 2005, the concept of the event was slowly setting in, and we were privileged to welcome the first international flying participants…

Since the very first year, the event’s subtitle has stated that “Our security cannot be taken for granted”, carrying a very special significance at September of 2001. The first edition took place only a few weeks after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the USA. The main goal of the show was to present a wide spectrum of assets and capabilities that the Czech Republic and its NATO Allies possessed for providing safety and security, including the military, police, firefighters, rescuers and other response agencies. From the outset, the emphasis has been on the presentation of international cooperation, thus participants from other countries took part, as well. Poland has been historically first foreign participant with the demonstration of its elite paratroopers from Bialsko-Biala, followed in 2002 by the Slovak 7^th Special Airborne Regiment from Žilina.

In 2002, the “NATO Day” - as the event was called then – served as a side-event to the NATO Prague Summit. The scope was still limited to a Friday-afternoon presentation at the Ostrava Černá louka exhibition grounds. The rising numbers of visitors (2001- 10,000, 2002-15,000) proved, though, that the show has quickly found its audience and carried an attractive meaning. It has also outgrown the limits of the downtown exhibition grounds and called for a larger venue. That is why, starting from 2003, the event has been taking place at the Ostrava Airport, at its southern ramp (and stayed there until 2008). Despite the change of location, the “in Ostrava” remained in the event’s name. The programme moved from Friday afternoon to Saturday.

The new more spacious venue brought also bigger space for more attractive demonstrations, especially those by various aircraft. This enabled the first presentation of the Czech Air Force Mi-24 attack helicopter, which was an absolute 2003 programme highlight. More space also provided possibility for showing some non-military agencies of the Integrated Rescue System, such as the debut by the Prison Service and the Customs Administration. The programme started at 11 am and concluded at around 6 pm. The United Kingdom participated as the third country, presenting its BMATT team from the Czech Army Vyškov Base. The 2003 was also “exclusive” for Poland, since it was for the first and only time in the history that the country has been absent from the programme.

Fourth year was marked by the premiere presentation of the E-3A AWACS aircraft from the NATO Geilenkirchen base in Germany. Visitors queued for long hours to get the chance to tour the inside of this unique plane. This has become a common sight every time the rotating “radar dome” aircraft returned to the show in later years.  Other participants included the Czech Armed Forces’ acclaimed units from international missions – chemical unit and fully equipped field hospital.

First five years peaked by the debut presence of a foreign country air force in 2005. The Royal Air Force then sent a pair of its Tornado F3 fighters from the Leuchars base in Scotland. Despite being planned only for the static presentation, it was decided on Friday afternoon that one of the jets would join the flying programme. This unexpected dynamic air display thus symbolically opened the skies over Ostrava to other international participants. Appearing in its first public presentation was the legendary Vera Czech passive surveillance system. The Czech Armed Forces further staged a simulated battle that included T-72 tanks, BVP-2 infantry fighting vehicles and the Mi-17 and W-3A helicopters. The growing international prestige of the event was demonstrated by the presence of NATO Assistant Secretary General Jean Fournet. An unusual and a welcome part of the programme was the Fire and Rescue Sport European Championship Finals.  

According to the police estimates, as many as 125,000 spectators came to see the first five years of the “NATO Day in Ostrava”. They could enjoy presentations by four countries (Czech Rep., Poland, Slovakia and the UK) and NATO. During this initial period, the event has taken ground as a unique presentation of the defence, security, safety and law enforcement agencies of all types. No one could have predicted at that time how far will this event expand in next five years, starting with the milestone 2006 edition.

See you at
16^th NATO Days in Ostrava & 7^th Czech Air Force Days!

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