Germany kicks off largest multinational air force exercise
The exercise involves almost 10.000 personnel and more than 250 aircraft from 25 nations and NATO. (Photo: NATO)
The objective is to exercise air operations with allied and partner air forces, with the focus on optimising and expanding cooperation among participating nations.
‘With exercise Air Defender 23, we are opening a new chapter in transatlantic history,’ said Lt Gen Ingo Gerhartz, Chief of the German Air Force, earlier this year.
The drill, which Germany started to plan in 2018, is based on a collective defence scenario also known as Article 5 scenario in which allies deploy their air forces to Germany to fight against hybrid occupation forces from a fictitious opponent.
Related Articles
Germany greenlights F-35 jet purchase for nuclear strike role
QinetiQ partners with US Navy and NATO on Formidable Shield exercise
India draws mixed lessons from multinational military exercises
In coordinated combined operations, the allied air forces demonstrate they are capable of defending NATO territory with swift decisive action.
The exercise involves almost 10.000 personnel and more than 250 aircraft from 25 nations and NATO.
The USAF deploying to Germany are mostly Air National Guard units from 35 US states. The bulk of participating forces operate out of three German Air Force bases and others fly in from their home bases.
Germany's ability to receive and host large aircraft contingents at its airfields enabled among others the US Agile Combat Employment concept facilitating short-term and out-and-back deployments.
Air Defender is also a major demonstration of NATO's Deterrence and Defence in the Euro-Altantic area that is to reassure populations of Allied cohesion and commitment.
More from Training
-
Royal Jordanian Air Force takes delivery of five new Bell 505 aircraft at Farnborough
The five helicopters complete an order of 10 Bell 505s placed in 2022.
-
US Navy contracts for EW training flight hours awarded
The electronic warfare (EW) jets contract is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, with work scheduled to begin in August 2024 and completed in August 2029.
-
Rheinmetall receives rocket order from German armed forces for Tiger helicopters
The Tiger attack helicopter was developed for the French and German armies, prior to also being procured by Spain and Australia, with a total of 185 ordered. Germany, however, has planned to retire its 55-strong fleet.
-
How US marines and sailors trained for humanitarian assistance in Indo-Pacific region
US Marine Corps and US Navy personnel enhanced their humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities during a training exercise in Papua New Guinea.