NATO Set to Launch Largest Ever
Air War Exercise over Germany
Air Defender 23: Four Years in Preparation,
Is the Biggest Air Drill in NATO’s History
WATCH: Deutsche Welle Video
(June 9, 2023) — After four years of preparation, Germany is set to host the biggest air defense drill in the history of the trans-Atlantic alliance. Meanwhile, intense fighting continues in eastern and southern Ukraine.
Air Defender 2023 Exercise
Will Take Off on June 12-24, 2023
NATO International
BERLIN, Germany – Exercise Air Defender 2023 (AD23) is a German-led, multinational exercise focusing on operational and tactical-level live-flying and will take place across Germany from June 12-24, 2023. AD23 involves Air Forces from 24 Nations and 220 aircraft. [Note: Deutsche Welle reports 250 aircraft will participate — EAW]
The German Air Force ensures command and control of air operations during the exercise. It will be combined in time and space with the German-led Multinational Air Group Exercise (MAGDAYS 23) and linked to two NATO exercises (RAMSTEIN DUST 23 and RAMSTEIN GUARD 23).
“Our goals for this largest deployment exercise since the foundation of NATO are comprehensive,” said Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, Chief German Air Force. “We want to demonstrate the agility and swiftness of Air Forces as a first responder and showcase NATO Air Power. In addition, we as the Luftwaffe show that we can plan, organize and execute such a large exercise. We take responsibility. The collaboration of 24 Nations hones our interoperability and enables a credible deterrence against a potential aggressor.
“The transatlantic dimension — we will have 100 US Air National Guard aircraft flying in Europe — is a rock-solid proof of NATO cohesion and solidarity,” Lieutenant General Gerhartz concluded underlining the importance of Germany as a hub for Allied defensive operations within Europe.
Participating Air Forces will be exposed to training scenarios simulating a NATO Article 5 scenario, i.e. collective defense of Alliance territory. Following the arrival and bed-down of incoming US reinforcements and other Allied aircraft at three hubs in Germany Jagel/Hohn in Schleswig-Holstein, Wunstorf in Lower Saxony and Lechfeld in Bavaria as well as Spangdahlem in Rhineland-Palatinate, Volkel in the Netherlands and Čáslav in the Czech Republic, the participants will practice Composite Air Operations (COMAOs) in training areas over Germany and conduct so-called out-and-back missions into the Baltic States and Romania.
Assets from Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Spain, Czech Republic, Turkey, Hungary, the United Kingdom, and the United States will be flying in AD23.
The training areas in the east, south and north of Germany used during AD23 are based on areas that the Air Force has used for routine training for decades. However, to accommodate comprehensive large-force flying activities they have been expanded and partly connected with each other by corridors.
“With AD23 we practice a wide spectrum of Air Operations via large daily COMAOs and underscore Germany’s capability to ensure command and control of multinational Air Forces,” said Lieutenant General Gerhartz. “Another important aspect is to facilitate continuation training for Air Force units and reinforcing our cooperative bond with the eastern flank of NATO by conducting Air Defense mission in the Czech Republic airspace to reinforce the cooperative bond with east,” he added.
While large-scale training is essential to maintain a credible deterrence and defense capability of Allied Air Forces, the German Air Force is making efforts to minimize the impact of AD23 on the population. The three air exercise areas will only be used for two to four hours a day at various times and, for safety reasons, closed for civilian air traffic during these time windows. In close cooperation with the authorities responsible for flight safety processes and procedures are currently being optimized to minimize the effects on civilian air traffic as much as possible.
Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office based on information provided by Air Defender 2023 Public Affairs Office
NATO Secretary General
Announces Dates for 2023 Vilnius Summit
NATO International
(November 9, 2022) — I am pleased to announce that the next meeting of NATO Heads of State and Government will take place in Vilnius on 11-12 July 2023.
We face the most complex and unpredictable security environment since the Cold War. The meeting in Vilnius will be an opportunity for Allied Heads of State and Government to agree further steps to strengthen our deterrence and defense and review significant increases in defense spending, as well as to continue our support for Ukraine. In an era of increasing strategic competition, the transatlantic bond between Europe and North America in NATO continues to be essential to the security of our one billion citizens.
I am grateful to Lithuania for hosting our Summit. Lithuania is a vital NATO Ally. As host to a multinational battle-group, Lithuania helps to provide strong deterrence and defense for the whole Alliance. I look forward to a successful Summit in Vilnius in July 2023.
Comment
Steven Starr — This is a very bad combination of events and I do not believe there is anything coincidental about this.
The Ukrainians lack air support and have been getting butchered in their first attempts at breaking through the Russian lines. However, these first attacks could be considered a reconnaissance in force; a variety of reports state that Ukraine has amassed 600 tanks and 60,000 troops that they will use for their main offensive push. Should NATO choose to join the conflict, this would be the time, as NATO would (attempt to) provide air support for a massive Ukrainian attack.
The NATO summit is timed to begin in Lithuainia the same day that the Air Defender Exercise begins. This will permit them to instantly approve NATO participation in the war, should a false flag or an air war with Russia begin.
The two most likely targets for the Ukrainian attack would be the recapture of the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant and the recapture of the land bridge to. Crimea (combined with the destruction of the Kerch Bridge).
I hope I am wrong.
