“Air Defender 23” exercise
Things might get crowded in the sky above Germany: soldiers from 25 nations will spend two weeks practising joint air operations with 250 planes and helicopters. “Air Defender 23” is the biggest air force relocation exercise since NATO was established. The German Air Force will take the lead in the manoeuvre.
3 min reading time
An A400M transport aircraft and a Tornado fighter jet with the slogan “Air Defender 2023” at the rear: 25 nations are training together.
Photo: Federal Armed Forces/Christian Timmig
“Air Defender 23” is going to be a demonstration of solidarity in NATO and the transatlantic unity of 25 nations. This multi-national exercise provides for 10,000 soldiers to spend two weeks, up to 23 June, practising joint air operations. More than 250 planes and helicopters will be used. This makes “Air Defender” the biggest air force relocation exercise since NATO was established. The goal is to practise collective response of the air forces in a crisis, and to further develop cooperation of the participating nations.
Germany is taking the lead and is acting as the logistics hub for “Air Defender 23”. The following other NATO members are involved: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, USA. As a partner of NATO, Sweden is also taking part in the exercise.
250 aircraft of 23 different types will be used. 100 of these aircraft are from 42 US states and will be posted to Europe. The majority of these are provided by the US Air National Guard. The National Guard is a military force at the US state level.
The participating nations will be starting their operations from six locations in particular: Jagel/Hohn in Schleswig-Holstein, Wunstorf (Lower Saxony), Lechfeld (Bavaria), Spangdahlem (Rhineland-Palatinate), Volkel (Netherlands), Čáslav (Czech Republic).
The German Air Force, the German Air Traffic Control Service, Eurocontrol, airlines and airport operators will do everything to minimise the impact of “Air Defender 23” on the general public. For example, the three air manoeuvre areas will be used militarily for up to four hours a day, and only at different times, never simultaneously. In these periods the areas are not available for civil air traffic. Simulations have shown that delays are to be expected at most, and no flight cancellations. Please keep an eye on up-to-date information provided by your airline.
Federal Chancellor visits Jagel air base
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz is going to attend the air defence exercise this coming Friday, 16 June 2023. The Inspector of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, will explain the exercise procedure to the Federal Chancellor at Jagel air base in Schleswig-Holstein. Scholz will also attend a static weapons display and speak to soldiers of the Federal Armed Forces and to international troops.
Alliance demonstrates determination and skills
Plenty of time and resources were invested into the air defence exercise. Germany had initiated the exercise back in 2018 and the details were planned over the following years. This means that “Air Defender 23” is not a direct reaction to Russia’s offensive against Ukraine in violation of international law. Nevertheless, the exercise is a demonstration of the Alliance’s determination and skills. It also serves to defend shared values: freedom, democracy and prosperity. More information about the preparations for “Air Defender 23” is available from the Federal Armed Forces.
“There has never been an exercise on this scale,” said Lieutenant General Günter Katz of the Federal Armed Forces’ Air Force Troop. In this video Katz, who used to be a fighter pilot himself, explains what NATO aims to demonstrate with “Air Defender 23”, what the exercise is going to look like and what citizens should expect.
“Air Defender 23” is based on an assistance scenario according to Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, where collective defence is outlined as the core of solidarity within the Alliance. This means that an attack against one ally is regarded as an attack against all partners. More details are available from the Federal Ministry of Defence: Collective deliberation and mutual support
Further information about “Air Defender 23” can be found on the website of the Federal Armed Forces.