November 24, 2024

NATO is the largest air exercise in its history | world

4 min read
NATO is the largest air exercise in its history |  world

Six military airfields in Germany will provide logistical support for the Air Defender 23 – Image: Philipp Heimer/Bundeswehr

After four years of preparations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will begin on Monday (12/06) the largest air maneuver in the history of the military alliance: 250 aircraft – 100 of them coming from the United States -, 10 thousand. Soldiers and 25 countries participate in the operation, which lasts until the 23rd, and Germany participates as a logistical center.

Simulates Operation Air Defender 23 in response to an attack on a member state of the coalition. Because of the training, there will be a temporary blockade of civil aviation in three areas of German airspace: on the northern coast and in the east and southwest of the country. This has to be one of the biggest challenges of the exercise, as these areas are part of the routes most used by civil aviation around the world, and their impact on the sector remains uncertain.

Air Defender 23 – Photo: DW

“We show that NATO territory is our red line, that we are ready to defend every inch of this territory,” said the inspector of the German Air Force and the highest pilot in the military hierarchy, Lieutenant-General Ingo Gerhartz, at a press event in Berlin. Wed (07/06). But Gerhartz stressed that the measure was intended to show a “defensive” attitude toward Russia.

Commercial flights must be maintained despite any delays

The lieutenant colonel said he hoped commercial flights would not be canceled, but did not rule out delays in landing and takeoff.

And on the business side, the same expectations have been reinforced by the European association of airlines “Airlines of Europe”. In addition to not expecting cancellations, the entity also downplayed the impact of potential delays, but did not rule out greater inconvenience to passengers.

Air Defender 23 – Photo: DW

Air traffic expert Clemens Bollinger points out that, unlike in other European countries, civilian and military air traffic controllers have been working together in Germany for 30 years, precisely because the traffic in German airspace is so intense.

According to him, while in France it is common for the military to intercept entire areas of civil aviation, the same does not happen in Germany. But he stresses that the experience and expertise of technicians alone is not enough to ensure punctuality – all the more so at a time when air traffic in European space has returned to levels comparable to those before the pandemic. “There are many factors that can lead to delays, such as thunderstorms or other weather events or congestion. [do espaço aéreo]he declares.

The practice of routine maintenance of air traffic is a nod to Russia

By choosing to conduct military exercises in parallel with normal civilian air traffic, NATO is sending a political signal to Russia, says Tobin Arnold of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP). “Obviously, it’s a clear signal in terms of showing willingness and readiness to defend the territory of the Alliance, even as the airspace is congested.”

Chaotic evacuation from Kabul in 2021: Air Defender 23 will simulate a similar situation – Image: Spanish Ministry of Defense/AP/Image Coalition

Gerhartz, of the German Air Force, explains that the exercises also include simulated operations on the ground, such as evacuations from airports – a scenario, apparently, included after scenes of chaos at Kabul airport with the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, after the United States ended and allied countries their operations in the country.

Other scenarios simulate support for ground forces, air battles, and neutralization of medium-range missiles – in this last mission, the US Army will field the F-35 stealth bomber, NATO’s newest fighter. In the North Sea, anti-submarine and anti-ship defense will also be trained, according to Arnold.

NATO air exercises take place during the Ukrainian counteroffensive

Although many associate the exercise with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Gerhartz of the Luftwaffe made no mention of the Russians while introducing Air Defender 23 to the press in Berlin. However, the US ambassador to Germany, Amy Guttmann, acted differently by citing Russian President Vladimir Putin by name: “Preparation and prevention have never been more important than today.”

The NATO maneuver could have undesirable side effects: those of challenging Russian military intelligence that is torn between studying training and dealing with an increasingly intense Ukrainian counteroffensive in the south and east of the country.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *