25 Countries and 250 Warplanes: NATO Launches the Largest Drills in Its History
The US will participate with 100 warjets, and Germany with 64, including 30 Eurofighters, 16 Tornadoes, and 5 A400M warjets, and the F-35s.
NATO drills held in Germany, the largest in the military alliance's history, from 12-23 June, 2023. Photo by Anadolu Images
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ome 10,000 personnel from 25 countries, including Japan and Sweden, will take part in NATO military drills kicking off on June 12, 2023, and lasting until June 23, which some observers believe aims at sending a message to Russia, with the participation of of 250 fighterjets.
Organized by Germany, The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), launched the largest military drills in its history with the aim of highlighting the unity of its member states in the face of potential threats, especially from Russia. Exercises will be carried out in the airspace of Germany, the Czech Republic, Estonia and Latvia.
Named The Air Defender 23, the drills aim at enhancing joint operation and protection from drones and potential cruise missiles targeting cities, airports within the NATO territory.
The idea of the exercises was launched in 2018 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. According to the commander of the German Air Force, General Ingo Gerhartz, the drills don’t target a specific country,
Noting that NATO is determined to defend “every inch” of its territory, adding, “We are a defense alliance, and these maneuvers were planned on this basis.”
A message to Russia
At the same time, U.S. ambassador to Germany, Amy Gattmann, told reporters that these military drills have the goal of sending a message, especially to Russia.
“I would be pretty surprised if any world leader was not taking note of what this shows in terms of the spirit of this alliance, which means the strength of this alliance. And that includes Mr. [Vladimir] Putin,” Gutmann said referring to Putin.
Russia’s war against Ukraine sent a wake-up call to NATO that was established nearly 75 years ago to confront the Soviet Union.
Finland and Sweden – which have long maintained formal neutrality to avoid any conflict with Moscow – asked to join NATO after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
While the German-led exercises have been planned since 2018, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year prompted NATO to prepare seriously for the possibility of an attack on its territory.
250 fighter jets
Germany will temporarily close its airspace, in preparation for exercises aimed at joint cooperation to repel any attack on NATO. The United States will participate with 100 warjets, and Germany with 64, including 30 Eurofighters, 16 Tornadoes, and 5 A400M warjets, in addition to the F-35s, a NATO AWACS reconnaissance warjet and a Japanese Air Force transport warjet.
NATO forces will train on rescue operations behind enemy lines and setting targets, as well as dealing with withdrawal of forces in the event of loss or withdrawal.
A NATO spokesperson added that “During the large-scale exercises, 24 helicopters will be stationed at (Lechfeld) Air Base in Bavaria.”
Last year, NATO conducted, its annual nuclear exercises, Steadfast Noon, with the participation of 14 countries and dozens of warjets of various models, over northern and western Europe. This year’s military drills gain a specific signifigance, not because it is the largest in NATO’s history, but because it comes amidist the Russia-Ukraine war.
