NATO Holds Largest Air Military Exercise, Air Defender 23 In Germany
The NATO military alliance is holding military exercises in German space. Three flight zones will be temporarily closed to civil air traffic, and civil aviation delays are expected.
After four years of preparation, NATO's military exercise, Air Defender 23, begins on Monday, June 12, 2023.
It is the largest such exercise since the military alliance was formed in 1949. Germany is hosting and logistics centre.
From June 12 to 23, around 250 aircraft will be stationed at six military bases. At least 25 countries took part in this combat exercise.
The United States alone will send 100 aircraft across the Atlantic. In the air, the participants will be over three flight zones: the North Sea, in eastern Germany, and in southern Germany These zones will be closed alternately to civil aircraft each day for several hours.
Expect delays to civil air traffic Regular air traffic is part of the exercise's challenges, as the sky over Europe is one of the busiest flight paths in the world.
Aviation experts are watching to see if civil air traffic can continue unhindered by Air Defender 23's activities.
During the 10 days of military maneuvers, German airports extended their operating hours into the night. "I hope that, if all these measures are effective, there will be no flight cancellations," said Ingo Gerhartz, a lieutenant general in the German Air Force.
However, he did not rule out delays in the departure or arrival of civil flights. Over the past 30 years, the work of German civil and military control tower operators has been integrated, according to German aviation expert Clemens Bollinger.
He told DW that flight controllers are in constant communication with their counterparts in the air force.
There is a special feature of German air traffic control, because German airspace is heavily used. Civil and military aviation in Germany coordinate with each other every day.
NATO sends "deterrence" message With the Air Defender exercises NATO wants to send a political message„“deterrence”, says Torben Arnold of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.
"Certainly, this exercise sends a clear signal, that even though this airspace is very busy, they are ready to say, 'we will defend every inch of NATO territory," he told DW.
More than 10,000 troops from NATO countries will participate in the various exercises. Some of this will be ground-based, including "evacuation from airfields," said Gerhartz of the German Air Force.
The exercise appears to have been added to the schedule after the chaos at Kabul Airport in 2021 as the US and its allies hastily ended their mission in Afghanistan.
Other scenarios being prepared include supporting ground forces from the air, dogfights against enemy jets, and interception of medium-range missiles by NATO fighter-bombers.
US forces sent F-35 stealth fighters, the alliance's most modern fighter jets, to take part in the exercise.
The North Sea will be a training ground for defense against enemy submarines or ships, Arnold said, adding that the enemy "could also attack from other areas apart from the continent."
NATO maneuvers as Ukraine counterattacks It's no secret that when talking about this "enemy", many people in Europe think of Russia and the full-scale attack it has launched against Ukraine since February 24, 2022.
However, when presenting plans for Air Defender 23 to the media in Berlin on June 7, Lieutenant General Gerhartz did not once mention Russia.
However, US Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann said the exercise would be an "impressive" show of force for the rest of the world.
"This exercise will demonstrate beyond doubt the agility and speed of our NATO allies," the US official told reporters in Berlin.
"I would be very surprised if any world leader didn't pay attention to what this alliance is showing in terms of the spirit of this alliance, which means the strength of this alliance," he said.
"And that includes Mr Putin," he said, referring to the Russian president.
The US and its NATO allies are “playing the deterrence card”, and this may also have their desired side effect.
The Russian armed forces will also study these NATO maneuvers, while in Ukraine, the Kyiv army is increasing pressure on Russia, with counterattacks along the front lines in the east and south of the country.