Combined Air Operations Centres (CAOCs) are multinational headquarters for tactical and operational control of NATO Air Forces below the Joint Force Command level. They operate within the NATO Integrated Air Defense System (NATINADS) framework.
Within the European NATO command structure, they are subordinate to NATO's Allied Air Command (AIRCOM), and superior to Control and Reporting Centres, national airspace control centres, and Regional Airspace Surveillance Coordination Centres (RASCC) such as BALTNET. NATO may also operate in Europe with static and deployable CAOCs.
Predecessor organisations of the CAOC were Air Tactical Operations Centre (ATOC) and Air Defence Operations Centre (ADOC). Until 1980 the two HQs for air attack and air defence operated autonomously.
Active locations +Active NATO Combined Air Operations CentresDesignationLocationCountryNotesRef.CAOC ENBOBodø Air BaseResponsible for operations in the High NorthCAOC UEUedemResponsible for operations in Northern Europe, north of the AlpsCAOC TJTorrejón Air BaseResponsible for operations in Southern Europe, south of the AlpsDACCC PRPoggio Renatico Air BaseDeployable Air Command and Control Centre
Former locations +Former NATO Combined Air Operations CentresDesignationLocationCountryYear deactivatedNotesRef.CAOC 1Finderup2008Replaced at same location by CAOC FinderupCAOC 2Uedem2008Replaced at same location by Deployable CAOC Uedem DeployableCAOC 3Reitan2008Responsibility transferred to CAOC FinderupCAOC 4Meßstetten2008Responsibility transferred to CAOC UedemCAOC 5Poggio Renatico Air Base2013Replaced at same location by Deployable CAOCCAOC 6Eskişehir2013Responsibility transferred to CAOC TorrejónCAOC-6 Factsheet CAOC 7Larissa2013Responsibility transferred to CAOC TorrejónAllied Joint Force Command Naples CAOC 8Torrejón Air Base2013Replaced at same location by CAOC TorrejónCAOC 9RAF High Wycombe2008Responsibility transferred to CAOC FinderupCAOC 10Lisbon2013Responsibility transferred to CAOC TorrejonCAOC FFinderup2013Responsibility moved to CAOC UedemBalkans CAOCVicenza2001Controlled the 1999 NATO aerial bombing campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo WarDCAOC UDUedem2013Deployable CAOC Uedem, Replaced at same location by CAOC UD"CAOC 2: State-of-the-Art Engineering for more Security" Allied Air Component Command HQ Ramstein - Press Release
See also Quick Reaction Alert, activity meant to guard a nation's airspace. CAOCs have the role of commanding QRA missions in NATO airspace.
References
Further reading MILITÄRISCHES STUDIENGLOSAR ENGLISCH Teil I, A – K, Bundessprachenamt (Stand Januar 2001), page 309, definition: Combined Air Operations Centre [CAOC].