NATO’s largest air exercise since the alliance’s founding in 1949 will take place this summer, and the US Air National Guard (ANG) will provide nearly half of the airpower planned to participate. As to how this show of force may be perceived by global threats like Russia as war rages in Ukraine, senior ANG officials said they can “carry away the message they want”.
The expansive exercise has been dubbed Air Defender 2023 (AD23), and it is scheduled to take place later this year between June 12 and June 23. AD23, which has been in preparation since 2018, will be led by Germany and will take place mainly in that country, but with additional forward operating sites in the Czech Republic, Estonia and Latvia, according to ANG.
Members of the German and U.S. media and services walk the flight line during an Air Defender 2023 media event at Joint Base Andrews, Md., April 5, 2023. Credit: U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. sergeant. Sarah M. McClanahan
The exercise will give participants the opportunity to conduct operational and tactical level field training in the region as well as enhance interoperability between allied forces. One of these allies that will be present at AD23 is Finland, which officially joined the NATO alliance on April 4 this year.
“Air Defender 23 strategically unites the United States and Germany,” U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael A. Loh, ANG director, said at a press conference at the embassy. from Germany to Washington. “[The exercise] not only tests our interoperability to work together, but also our ability to deploy and employ quickly [coalition air power].”
U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael Loh briefs U.S. and German Airmen and media during Air Defender Media Day 2023, Joint Base Andrews, MD, April 4, 2023. Credit: US Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. David Eichaker
Air and Space Forces Magazine, quoting an unnamed German military spokesman, said that while the AD23 certainly has NATO support, Germany was largely responsible for organizing the event. Of the 24 countries that will participate, including Germany and the United States, 22 are NATO member countries, with Sweden being one of two not affiliated to the alliance.
“NATO is a purely defensive alliance,” German Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz, head of the German Air Force, told the German Embassy press conference alongside Loh. “But if someone attacks one country, he attacks us all.”
German Air Force Chief Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz, left, and U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael Loh, Director of the Air National Guard, pose for a photo after speaking with German media during the Air Defender 2023 media day, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, April 4, 2023. Credit: US Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. David Eichaker
Of the 10,000 personnel and women scheduled to attend and the 220 aircraft that will be employed throughout AD23, the ANG alone will provide approximately 100 aircraft contributed by 46 wings from 35 states. At another press event held recently at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Loh pointed out that AD23 will mark the ANG’s largest deployment across the Atlantic since the Gulf War.
A German A400 can be seen behind Loh and Gerhartz at Air Defender Media Day 2023. Credit: US Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. David Eichaker
A variety of simulated exercises will be conducted during AD23, including those that will require forces to respond to simulated attacks in the form of surface-to-air missiles or electronic communications jammers. Participants will also practice their abilities to conduct offensive and defensive anti-aircraft operations using aggressor aircraft as well as close air support and ground attack capabilities.
The US Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept exercise will also take place during AD23. ACE seeks to ensure that US forces will have the ability to rapidly deploy to and from contested, degraded, or remote locations in theater. With this in mind, AD23 will explore ways in which Allied forces can operate from austere airfields in Eastern Europe with limited time.
This training opportunity extends beyond the pilots flying the aircraft, of course, as it would also give mobility base personnel and aircraft maintainers the opportunity to familiarize themselves with assets from different countries. Exploring alternative fueling methods, working out the logistics that such a conflict would require, and having a realistic idea of how each ally might come together to fight a global war are also general goals of AD23.
“Strategic and tactical interoperability with our allies and partners is a key element of credible deterrence, as is the demonstration of a combat-ready, assertive and effective air force,” Loh said. “Participation in Air Defender ’23 is a demonstration of our continued commitment to collective security and our dedication to lasting peace and stability in the region.”
AD23 will cross paths with the US Army’s annual counterpart in Europe and Africa to the Germany-hosted exercise known as Defender 23, which will span 10 different European countries. The event will take place April 22 through June 23 with approximately 9,000 U.S. troops and approximately 17,000 additional troops from 26 allied and partner nations. THE The Pentagon said that approximately 7,000 pieces of equipment have already been shipped to the European theater from the United States, and that approximately 13,000 pieces of equipment drawn from pre-positioned stock will be used throughout Defender 23.
U.S. soldiers arrive on their assigned M2A3 Bradley fighting vehicles prior to live demolition training as part of Defender 22 at the Oberlausitz training area, Germany, May 10, 2022. Credit: U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Gabriel Rivera
While officials like Loh and Gerhartz have made it clear that AD23 will not exercise any defined scenario targeting a specific power in the European theater, partner nations still want to demonstrate their collective ability to mobilize and defend the contested region. “Preparedness is absolutely important to our ability to deliver air power anytime, anywhere, and our ability to care for our homeland,” Loh said.