Exercise, which began Monday, host 250 aircraft and simulate massive air deployment in reaction to an attack on a member state…
Germany is hosting the biggest air deployment exercise in NATO’s history, a show of force intended to impress allies and potential adversaries such as Russia, German and American officials said last Wednesday.
The Air Defender 23 exercise starting this coming week will see 10,000 participants and 250 aircraft from 25 nations respond to a simulated attack on a NATO member country. The United States alone is sending 2,000 US Air National Guard personnel and about 100 aircraft to take part in the June 12-23 training maneuvers.
Approximately 2,600 Airmen and around 100 aircraft from 42 states are arriving in locations across Germany in preparation for exercise #AirDefender23.#AD23 is the largest air forces deployment exercise in @NATO history and a demonstration of transatlantic solidarity. pic.twitter.com/WaifmyJqFt
— Air National Guard (@AirNatlGuard) June 10, 2023
“This is an exercise that would be absolutely impressive to anybody who’s watching, and we don’t make anybody watch it,” US Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann said.
“I would be pretty surprised if any world leader was not taking note of what this shows in terms of the spirit of this alliance, which means the strength of this alliance. And that includes Mr. Putin,” Gutmann said referring to the Russian president.
“We are showing that NATO territory is our red line, that we are prepared to defend every centimeter of this territory,” said Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz of the German air force, which is coordinating the exercise.
