Combined Air Operations Centre


 * This article is about NATO Combined Air Operations Centre, it should not be confused with the Air and Space Operations Center as a type of command center used by the United States Air Force.

Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) is a multinational headquarters for tactical and operational control of NATO Air Forces below the Joint Force Command level''.

Within the European NATO command structure it is subordinated to the Component Command – Air, and is superior to Control and Reporting Centres. NATO may 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 CAOCs

 * Combined Air Operations Centre Uedem (CAOC UE) - Uedem, Germany.
 * Combined Air Operations Centre Torrejon (CAOC TJ) - Torrejon, Spain.
 * Deployable Air Command and Control Centre (DACCC PR) - Poggio Renatico, Italy.

Inactive CAOCs
Deployable)
 * CAOC 1 - Finderup (Jutland), Denmark (deactivated in 2008, replaced at same location by CAOC Finderup)
 * CAOC 2 - Uedem, Germany (deactivated in 2008, replaced at same location by Deployable CAOC Uedem
 * CAOC 3 - Reitan, Norway (deactivated in 2008, responsibility moved to Combined Air Operations Centre Finderup)
 * CAOC 4 - Meßstetten, Germany (deactivated in 2008, responsibility moved to CAOC Udem
 * CAOC 5 - Poggio Renatico, Italy (deactivated in 2013, replaced at same location by Deployable CAOC)
 * CAOC 6 - Eskisehir, Turkey (deactivated in 2013, responsibility moved to Combined Air Operations Centre Torrejon)
 * CAOC 7 - Larissa, Greece (deactivated in 2013, responsibility moved to CAOC Torrejon)
 * CAOC 8 - Torrejon, Spain (deactivated in 2013, replaced at same location by CAOC Torrejon)
 * CAOC 9 - RAF High Wycombe, United Kingdom (deactivated in 2008, responsibility moved to CAOC Finderup)
 * Balkans CAOC - Vicenza, Italy (deactivated in 2001)
 * CAOC 10 - Lisbon, Portugal (deactivated in 2013, responsibility moved to Combined Air Operations Centre-Torrejon)
 * CAOC F - Finderup, Denmark (deactivated in 2013, responsibility moved to CAOC Uedem)
 * DCAOC UD - Deployable CAOC Uedem, Germany (deactivated in 2013, replaced at same location by CAOC UD)

References / sources

 * MILITÄRISCHES STUDIENGLOSAR ENGLISCH Teil I, A – K, Bundessprachenamt (Stand Januar 2001), page 309, definition: Combined Air Operations Centre [CAOC].