AWACS aircraft to patrol skies during World Cup

Nato will have AWACS surveillance planes patrolling the skies over Germany during the World Cup, German Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung said today.

“Such a major event has a potential for danger,” Jung told reporters after meeting with Nato Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer at alliance headquarters in Brussels.

“We have to take precautions to anticipate developments as quickly as possible,” he said.

The planes are primarily used to detect suspicious aircraft and can spot low-flying planes at a range of more than 250 miles.

AWACS planes were also used during the 2004 European Championships in Portugal.

Jung said De Hoop Scheffer “reacted very positively” to the suggestion to use the planes during the June 9-July 9 championship.