Air Defender 23

One of the Largest exercises in NATO history since the end of the Cold War will kick off on the 12th of June. The exercise aims to train and expand the rapid deployment capability and the integration of the participating forces under a NATO Article 5 scenario. More than 10,000 soldiers and 250 aircraft will be involved in this exercise, most of which will be provided by the US Air National Guard. In the weeks leading up, around 100 aircraft from 42 US states made their way across the Atlantic Ocean. The Key operation locations during the exercise are Jagel, Hohn, Wunstorf, and Lechfeld, as well as Spangdahlem, Volkel (NL), and Čáslav (CZ).

In addition to the United States, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Spain, Czech Republic, Turkey, and Hungary also take part to participate in the exercise. A large part of the approximately 250 participating aircraft maneuvers will take place in one of three large exercise air spaces north, south, and east. Furthermore, missions will take place to the Baltic States in the east and Romania in the south.