Germany is preparing for Air Defender 23, the largest air exercise in NATO history to be held over German airspace. According to officials, the simulation is intended for training and to impress allies and potential adversaries such as Russia.
During Air Defender 23, which starts next Monday, some 250 aircraft from 25 countries will respond to a simulated attack on a NATO member state. From the United States alone, approximately 2,000 US Air National Guard personnel and approximately 100 aircraft will participate in the training maneuvers.
US Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann called the exercise “impressive (…) for all who watch” in a press conference, but added that NATO does not allow anyone to watch it. According to Gutman, she would be surprised if the Air Defender 23 did not attract Putin’s attention. The exercise, she said, “demonstrates beyond any doubt the agility and speed of our allied forces in NATO as first responder‘.
Red line
Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz of the German Air Force is coordinating the exercise, saying the exercise “shows that NATO territory is our red line, that we are ready to defend every inch of this territory.” To emphasize the defensive nature of the exercise, Gerhartz added that he will not fly near Kaliningrad. Kaliningrad is the Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea between Poland and Lithuania, in the area there are advanced Russian missile and anti-aircraft systems.
According to the director of the US Air National Guard, Lieutenant General Michael A. Loh, the exercise goes beyond deterrence. In a press conference, Loh said it is “about the preparation of our armed forces”. “It’s about coordination, not just within NATO, but also with our other allies and partners outside NATO.”
“NATO territory is our red line”
The NATO exercise will disrupt civilian air traffic over Germany for approximately two hours a day in the north, south and east exercise areas, which are used for military purposes.
The Netherlands is also participating in the exercise, the Dutch airspace above the North Sea is open for flights. Missions are also flown later in the day, so Volkel Air Base is open for its aircraft Monday through Friday until 21:00 for two weeks. On Friday, June 23, the Volkel airbase will be open to air traffic until 16:45, reports the Ministry of Defence.
Source: BNR
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