Air Defender 23: NATO’s largest aviation exercise begins in Germany

12 June, 2023 Eurofighter Typhoon of the German Air Force. Photo from open source On Monday, June 12, NATO Air Defender 23 exercises are beginning in Germany.

These are the largest air exercise of the Alliance since its foundation. About 250 aircraft from 25 countries, including 5th generation F-35 fighters, will be involved in the aviation training. Air Defender 23 will run from June 12 to 23, with up to 10,000 people participating.

Only from the USA, 2,000 National Guard servicemen and about 100 aircraft will take part in the maneuvers.

F-35 multirole combat aircraft. Photo credits: US Air Force

According to the mass media, transport aircraft of the Japanese Air Force will also be engaged in the exercises.

Aviation will be concentrated on German air bases, locations in the Netherlands and the Czech Republic will also be involved for maneuvers. The airspace in the training areas will only be used for four hours a day at various times, after which it will be closed to civilian aircraft. Air Defender 23 is being conducted to test the ability of the air forces of NATO countries to respond to crisis situations in Europe and to improve cooperation against the background of heightened tensions in relations with Russia.

The main focus is on optimization and expansion of cooperation between participating countries.

Rapid deployment of American combat aircraft in Europe to support alliance allies will also be worked out.

As previously reported, German authorities asked China to stop recruiting former Luftwaffe pilots to train its own air force, fearing they could reveal NATO secret information.