Active 1 July 1992–present Branch German Air Force | Country Germany | |
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Role Tactical Reconnaissance
Naval warfare
SEADS Part of Kommando 4. Luftwaffendivision
(4th Air Force Division) Garrison/HQ Schleswig Air Base, Jagel and Kropp, Schleswig-Holstein | ||
Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51 "Immelmann" (Tactical Air Force Wing 51 "Immelmann"), formerly known as Aufklärungsgeschwader 51 (Reconnaissance Wing), is a tactical reconnaissance wing of the German Air Force. The Wing is named after World War I German flying ace Max Immelmann. The wing operates 25 Panavia Tornado aircraft in the tactical reconnaissance role and has two reconnaissance ground stations that can be deployed on overseas operations. The Tornado aircraft are equipped with reconnaissance sensors which are carried in a pod mounted under the fuselage. Depending on the variant used, the reconnaissance pod with optical and infrared sensors, can reconnoiter targets both day and night.
In 2007, to support NATO coalition operations across Afghanistan, Aufklärungsgeschwader 51 "Immelmann" deployed Tornados to Mazar-i-Sharif, Northern Afghanistan.
On 1 October 2013, the unit was renamed in the course of adaptations to the new structure of the German Air Force.
Tasks
Originally a pure reconnaissance wing, AG 51 took over the role of naval aerial warfare in 2005 when Germany's Naval Air Wing 2 was disbanded. The role of Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses was inherited in April 2013 from Jagdbombergeschwader 32 when the latter unit was disbanded.