Combined Air Operations Centre
Multinational headquarters for tactical and operational control of NATO Air Forces
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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 centers and Regional Airspace Surveillance Coordination Centres (RASCC) such as BALTNET. NATO may also operate in Europe static and deployable CAOCs.
Predecessor organizations 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
| Designation | Location | Country | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAOC ENBO | Bodø Air Base |  Norway |
[1] | |
| CAOC UE | Uedem |  Germany |
[2] | |
| CAOC TJ | Torrejon Air Base |  Spain |
[2] | |
| DACCC PR | Poggio Renatico Air Base |  Italy |
Deployable Air Command and Control Centre | [3][4] |
Former locations
| Designation | Location | Country | Year deactivated | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAOC 1 | Finderup |  Denmark |
2008 | Replaced at same location by CAOC Finderup | |
| CAOC 2 | Uedem | Germany |
2008 | Replaced at same location by Deployable CAOC Uedem Deployable | [5] |
| CAOC 3 | Reitan | Norway |
2008 | Responsibility transferred to CAOC Finderup | |
| CAOC 4 | Meßstetten | Germany |
2008 | Responsibility transferred to CAOC Uedem | |
| CAOC 5 | Poggio Renatico Air Base | Italy |
2013 | Replaced at same location by Deployable CAOC | |
| CAOC 6 | Eskişehir |  Turkey |
2013 | Responsibility transferred to CAOC Torrejon | [6] |
| CAOC 7 | Larissa |  Greece |
2013 | Responsibility transferred to CAOC Torrejon | [7] |
| CAOC 8 | Torrejon Air Base | Spain |
2013 | Replaced at same location by CAOC Torrejon | [8] |
| CAOC 9 | RAF High Wycombe |  United Kingdom |
2008 | Responsibility transferred to CAOC Finderup | |
| CAOC 10 | Lisbon |  Portugal |
2013 | Responsibility transferred to CAOC Torrejon | [9] |
| CAOC F | Finderup | Denmark |
2013 | Responsibility moved to CAOC Uedem | [10] |
| Balkans CAOC | Vicenza | Italy |
2001 | Controlled the 1999 NATO aerial bombing campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War[11] | [12] |
| DCAOC UD | Uedem | Germany |
2013 | Deployable CAOC Uedem, Replaced at same location by CAOC UD | [13] |
