NATO countries and their allies will conduct the largest air exercise in the history of the Alliance from June 12 to 23. A total of 25 countries will deploy nearly 250 aircraft, from B-1 strategic bombers to fifth-generation F-35 fighter-bombers and deadly long-range drones.
Source. The Wall Street Journal writes about it.
The exercises will be led by Germany, but will "stretch" halfway around the world – from America to Russia's borders in the Baltic and Black Sea.
More than 10,000 military personnel will take part in the exercise, with more than 2,000 sorties.
According to the scenario of Air Defender 23, the enemy captures the German port of Rostock (which, by the way, is the site of a pipeline that pumps oil brought by sea), and NATO forces, in accordance with Article 5 of the Alliance's charter, come to the collective defense of Germany.
It is also planned to simulate an attack by Russian missiles and drones, which will be intercepted by fighter jets.
Warplanes will actively use the airspace on NATO's eastern flank, such as Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Romania.
"It's about sending a strong signal: if the worst comes to worst, we will be able to defend ourselves," said Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, commander of the German Air Force, in late May. He did not say to whom this signal was being sent, but the Bild newspaper, which quoted him, wrote that it was "clear – to Russia and President Vladimir Putin."
"Germany should take more responsibility and sometimes become a leader among NATO countries in Europe," Gerhartz told the WSJ.
The country will provide 70 combat aircraft, so "we are showing that this NATO territory is our red line," he added.
The skills practiced during the exercise will be useful for deploying and interoperating Air Force forces not only in Europe but also in Asia, particularly in defense of Japan and South Korea, Lt. Gen. Michael Locke, commander of the US Air National Guard, told the WSJ.
Background. As a reminder, the coalition of countries to provide fighter jets to Ukraine includes eight countries – and this number may grow.