International operations
In 2009 on average 1,300 soldiers were deployed in up to 18 international operations, based on decisions by the Ministerial Council of the Austrian Government. The main effort remained on the Western Balkans, where up to 900 soldiers were deployed.
2.1 Troop Contingents
AUCON/KFOR
Since summer 1999 the Austrian Contingent has been deployed within NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR). The main contribution is deployed along the Multinational Task Force South (MNTF S) - a brigade-sized unit with its Headquarters located in Prizren.
The MNTF S is formed by the troop-contributing nations Germany, Turkey, Bulgaria, Switzerland and Austria, being made up three Manoeuvre Battalions (MAN BN), a couple of directly led units and a Multinational Logistic Unit (MNLU) as well as a helicopter squadron.
AUCON/KFOR provides the MAN BN DULJE, a battalion-sized task force located in Camp SUVA REKA, to which also one Swiss Company is attached. Within the directly led units further contributions are deployed to the MNLU, the recce company, the military police and the helicopter squadron. Furthermore, staff personnel are deployed with HQ KFOR as well as HQ MNTF S.
By the end of May 2009, the lead over the MNTF S was handed back to Germany via change of command. According to the hand-over/take-over of the lead, the additionally deployed assets were redeployed as well. In this regard, the exchange of the helicopters needs to be pointed out, in which the "Black Hawk” (S-70) and the "Alouette” III (Al-3) were redeployed and the old working horse "Agusta Bell” AB.212 took over again. From January 2009 to January 2010 Austria received the appointment of the Deputy Chief of Staff/Support (DCOS/SPT) at the rank of a flag officer (Brigadier General). The further contribution to HQ KFOR is tailored to developments and adjustments of the HQ.
In 2009 the transition of KFOR was started. According to the plans from Joint Forces Command (JFC) Naples, within the next two years - deterrent presence - should allow the nations to redeploy most of their heavy equipment. In parallel, the structures for Situational Awareness (SA) should be developed in order to facilitate the continued transition to a civilian mission starting by 2011 at the earliest.
Within the framework of streamlining, which is de facto the preparation for Deterrent Presence, the multinational contributions to MNTF S were reduced and redeployed. With the rotation of AUCON in autumn 2009, the contingent was reduced by one infantry company.
Throughout the various planning conferences for KFOR, Austria announced that it would provide various elements to the structures of HQ KFOR, which are led directly. Due to the reluctance of major troop-providers, by the end of 2009 major parts of the planning were still ongoing and will have to be adjusted frequently.
AUCON/EUFOR/ALTHEA
In summer 2009, the Regional Coordination Centre 4 (RCC 4) in Tuzla moved the HQ to Camp "Edelweiss” and still coordinates the Liaison and Observation Teams (LOT) from Greece, Portugal and Austria. AUCON provides the original LOT in Tuzla and Bratunac and, since the redeployment of Finland in autumn 2009, also that of Brèko, after simultaneously dissolving the LOT in Vlasenica.
The further scope of duties from the former Finnish LOT in Gradaèac and Bijeljina were resolved through redistribution within the area of responsibility of RCC 4.
Greece was operating the LOT in Ugljevik and Zvornik and Portugal that of Derventa and Modrica. The Austrian Field HUMINT Team finished duties and was redeployed in mid-2009.
AUCON also deployd staff personnel to the HQ EUFOR in Sarajevo. The Division Chief for Joint Military Affairs (JMA) was appointed as highest-ranking position to Austria. Starting with autumn 2009 Austria supported tactical air transport (TAT) by deploying two helicopters S-70 to EUFOR/ALTHEA.
On 4 December 2009 Major General Bernhard Bair, Commander of the Logistic Support Command of the Austrian Armed Forces, was appointed as Commander EUFOR/ALTHEA (COM EUFOR) for one year. For the support of the internal framework of the new COM, additional staff personnel and three helicopters Al-3 specialised in MEDEVAC and COM flight were deployed. In total, up to 150 soldiers can be deployed.
With the appointment of Ambassador Dr. Valentin Inzko as High Representative/Secretary General (HR/SG), Austria remains in a very prominent position in the further development of Bosnia.
EUFOR/CHAD&CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (CAF) Transition to MINURCAT II
As of mid-February 2008 the failure of MINURCAT I became obvious. The EU planned a "bridging operation” in order to support a follow-on operation by the UN and to establish a secure environment in the theatre of eastern Chad and north-eastern Central African Republic - especially in the province of Birao for one year. The Interim Operational Capability (IOC) was reached by 15 March 2008, which also became the starting date for the calculation of the subsequent year of operation. By 15 March 2009 the Transfer of Authority (TOA) from the EU to the UN was effected.
The UN requested the troop-contributing countries of the EU-led operation to continue their engagement by "re-hatting” and continuing the contributions. Forces withdrawn from the previous EU force structure had to be redeployed by May 2010. During that phase elements of AUCON were still deployed into the theatre and ready to secure and survey critical areas. The new UN operation, named MINURCAT II, is based on a totally different concept of operations than MINURCAT I was. Starting with MINURCAT II, Austria contributed mainly a logistic unit in the build-up phase. This support was designated until the FOC would be obtained by the end of 2009 and, after that, the redeployment via land and sealines of communication was planned.
AUCON core structure was made up of one transportation company and one platoon for escorts and respective medical elements in order to conduct self-sufficient transports. Within AUCON there was also an NSE in order to support the high autonomy in theatre. The transportation company was OPCON to a French transport battalion and together they were assigned to supporting the first phase of the new operation.
UNDOF
AUCON/UNDOF, numbering approximately 375 soldiers, has been deployed to the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) since 1974. In essence, AUCON consists of one infantry battalion, named AUSBATT, to which a Croatian infantry company has been attached since 2008. Since last year, also Position 22 was shifted from the former POLBATT into its area of responsibility. This measure ensures UNDOF’s freedom of action and the continuity of this important border crossing to Israel. The contribution of the Austrian Armed Forces over such an extended period is a constant effort to a UN operation that presumably will endure further. The forces withdrawn from Poland were substituted by Philippine ones. Austria, however, will continue to provide the Force Commander of UNDOF until spring 2010.
2.2 Operations with Austrian staff personnel
In 2009 the following operations continued:
- 4 staff officers to HQ UNFICYP (UN Force in Cyprus);
- Up to 3 staff officers to HQ ISAF (International Security Assistance Force);
- 7 military observers to UNTSO (UN Truce Supervision Organisation) in the Middle East;
- 2 military observers to MINURSO (Mission de las Naciones Unidas para el Referendum en el Sahara Occidential, Western Sahara);
- 2 military observers to UNMIN (UN Mission in Nepal), where in summer 2009 the mandate was prolonged;
- 2 staff officers to EUSEC RD CONGO;
- 1 staff officer to UNOWA until 14 July 2009 (Office of the U.N. for Western Africa); in the function of the Deputy Military Advisor to the Special Representative of the Secretary General;
The following operations continued without situation-relevant changes:
- UNOMIG with 2 staff officers (UN Mission in Georgia) was terminated as of 15 June 2009 and OSCE-GEO (OSCE in Georgia, the occupation of South-Ossetia in August 2008 led to a powerful military intervention by Russia, in the course of which Russia occupied South-Ossetia as well as Abkhazian and Georgian territories) on 30 June 2009 due to the changed situation;
- In autumn 2008 EUMM-GEO started, with the Austrian Ministry of the Interior deploying one team; in autumn 2009 the decision was taken that as of 2010 also up to 3 Officers of the MoD would be deployed, who, after having finished their preparation phase in 2009, were eventually deployed in January 2010 as Military Monitoring Officers (MMO).
2.3 International humanitarian and disaster relief as well as evacuation operations
The following units and elements were prepared for operations in support of international humanitarian and disaster relief as well as evacuation:
- AFDRU (Austrian Armed Forces Disaster Relief Unit) is a unit that is specialised in disaster relief, is ready to deploy within 10 hours after alert and can be tailored to the mission in various ways in order to cooperate with civilian organisations. Various specialists, including from civilian professions, can be attached to this unit. Search and rescue operations after earthquakes and water purification after floods are part of its core tasks.
- UNDAC (UN Disaster Assessment and Co-ordination Team) is part of the UN organisation with 24 hours notice to move and can be deployed on call of UN-OCHA (UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs) worldwide.
In 2009 one UNDAC Expert was deployed to assist during an epidemic in Namibia to effectively coordinate national and international aid.
2.4 Crisis management teams
Upon request by the Ministry for European and International Affairs, several times in 2009 the Austrian Armed Forces provided various assets for support.
2.5 Contributions to multinational formations
Operational Reserve Forces (ORF)
Since the mid-nineties forces have been kept for the Joint Operation Area (JOA) Balkans in coordination with NATO and the EU in order to counter unforeseen developments in the overall situation. In general, those forces are Over the Horizon Forces (OTHF), forming the core of operational reserve forces. Through operational rehearsals, battalion commanders, their staffs, including company commanders as well as all their troops are introduced top-down into the specific conditions of the theatre.
The contribution of the Austrian Armed Forces is always made up of one infantry company on the armoured personnel carrier "Pandur”, including national support numbering about 140 soldiers. Depending on the tasks as well as the individual situation, this contribution can be augmented to up to 230 soldiers in total. This infantry company is detached OPCON with a German battalion and in this way undertakes all operations together, right from the preparation phase onwards.
In 2009 those forces were deployed in spring and in autumn, thereby accomplishing missions in the north of Kosovo.