06/12/2023 16:37 (act. 06/12/2023 04:37 pm)
“Air Defender 2023” began. ©AFP
The largest air force exercise in NATO history – the “Air Defender 2023” maneuver – has officially begun.
A spokesman for the German Air Force confirmed the start on Monday morning to the German Press Agency. Until June 23, 25 nations and NATO will participate in the exercise under German leadership. According to the Bundeswehr, around 10,000 troops and 250 aircraft are involved.
Also in southern Germany
The aim is to train how a fictitious attack by an eastern attacker is repelled by NATO allies. According to the Air Force, the first idea for the maneuver came in 2018, before Russia launched a war of aggression in Ukraine.
Three airspaces in Germany are directly affected by the exercise: parts of northern Germany and the North Sea, parts of eastern Germany and the Baltic Sea, and parts of southwestern Germany.
“Do everything so that it does not seem to climb”
A kickoff event for “Air Defender 2023” is planned for Monday afternoon at the Wunstorf military airfield near Hanover, which will serve as the logistical hub for the manoeuvre. The Inspector of the Air Force, Ingo Gerhartz, the Inspector of the Armed Forces Base, Lieutenant General Martin Schelleis, and the Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, Stephan Weil (SPD), are expected there.
Gerhartz had previously said he was showing strength in the move but wanted to avoid an escalation against Russia. “We are doing everything we can to make sure it doesn’t get worse,” the German Air Force inspector told RBB’s Inforadio on Monday. As an example, he gave: “We will not fly any flights in the direction of Kaliningrad.”
“No major restrictions”
“This is the sign that we’ve shown ourselves how quickly we can act,” Gerhartz said. “The fact that it is now clear also at a very special time with a view to the war in Ukraine – I mean, that is also obvious.” Many people, including people close to him, told him: “It’s good that we show that we are strong, that we can defend ourselves, to send a very clear signal: NATO territory is simply the red line.”
The inspector does not expect major restrictions on civil air traffic. “Of course, we’ve been working closely with German air traffic control for months,” Gerhartz said. You have introduced many measures, including extending the opening hours of airfields. That is why he hopes “that there will be no major restrictions – for example, that there will be no flight cancellations”. He emphasized: “We only practice in the airspaces where we are active… (…) It is completely clear that the intensity will obviously be higher, but no civil airfield is closed.” The GdF air traffic controllers union fears massive effects on the course of civil aviation.
Before the start of the international maneuver, hundreds of people demonstrated in front of Wunstorf air base on Saturday. The Air Force inspector was sympathetic to the protests against the exercise. “I absolutely agree that it’s good for people to express their opinions too. (…) We also offer any kind of conversation, ”he said.