NATO Kicks Off Largest Air Exercise In Its History

NATO kicked off its largest air deployment in its history in Germany on Monday.

“German-led multinational exercise Air Defender 23 is the largest air force deployment in NATO’s history. From June 12-23, the goal is to exercise air operations with Allied and Partner air forces. The focus is on optimizing and expanding cooperation among participating nations,” NATO stated.

“With exercise Air Defender 23, we are opening a new chapter in transatlantic history,” said Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, Chief of the German Air Force.

Gerhartz made the comments at a press conference in April for German and American journalists.

He had this message for NATO Ambassadors Tuesday.

WATCH:

In a video message to #NATO Ambassadors today, 🇩🇪 Air Chief Lt Gen Ingo Gerhartz said that the 🇩🇪-led exercise #AirDefender23 will prove that the Alliance is able to defend itself. Air forces are first responders, he said, and the exercise will show how we are #StrongerTogether. pic.twitter.com/P07MCrvhJY

— Germany at NATO (@GermanyNATO) June 13, 2023

“10,000 personnel and more than 250 aircraft from Allied and Partner nations will participate in collective defence training exercise,” NATO said.

Germany 🇩🇪 kicks off largest multinational air force deployment in #NATO history

10,000 personnel and more than 250 aircraft from Allied and Partner nations will participate in collective defence training exercise #AirDefender23#AD23

Find out more: https://t.co/hNH1skvVdj pic.twitter.com/7kRnyNGmU4

— NATO (@NATO) June 12, 2023

WATCH:

Germany is hosting @NATO's two-week-long Air Defender 23 exercise — the alliance's largest ever of its kind. pic.twitter.com/YMyYZW3AfB

— DW News (@dwnews) June 12, 2023

ALERT 🚨 NATO began its largest ever air force deployment exercise in Europe https://t.co/H7mDloz2XR

— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) June 12, 2023

From NATO:

The exercise – 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.

In coordinated combined operations, the Allied air forces demonstrate they are capable of defending NATO territory with swift decisive action. The exercise’s large scale operations involve almost 10,000 personnel and more than 250 aircraft from 25 nations and NATO.

The US air forces deploying to Germany are mostly Air National Guard units from 35 US States. The bulk of the participating forces operate out of three German Air Force bases and others fly in from their home bases.

Air Defender 23 demonstrates transatlantic solidarity through the visible contribution of US air forces. Germany’s ability to receive and host large aircraft contingents at its airfields enabling among others the US Agile Combat Employment concept facilitating short-term and out-and-back deployments. Last, but not least Air Defender is a major demonstration of NATO’s Deterrence and Defence in the Euro-Altantic area that is to reassure populations of Allied cohesion and commitment.

According to the German Air Chief, Lieutenant General Gerhartz, Germany – by planning, organising, and conducting Air Defender 2023 – responds to calls to accept more responsibility in the global security domain.

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