“Air Defender”: A maneuver in the sign of the turning point

Air forces from western allies have been practicing for nine days repelling a fictitious attack. “Air Defender” was both: a test for the Bundeswehr and a signal to Kremlin boss Putin.

The Bundeswehr has dressed up for the major exercise. The tornado jet, which can be seen on Tuesday at the Jagel military airfield in Schleswig-Holstein, stands out due to its special paintwork: the tail fin in black, red and gold, with the words “Air Defender 2023” on it. A satisfied Boris Pistorius is standing in front of the fighter jet. It is “impressive to see how the fighter jets thunder into the sky 80 times a day,” says the defense minister.

When the SPD politician visited the military airfield in Jagel, it was still a few days until the end of the maneuver. But Pistorius is already taking stock. Unsurprisingly, it turns out to be positive. Irrespective of a large number of languages ​​and countries of origin, the servicewomen and men worked “hand in hand”. Pistorius also attests to their “great enthusiasm” for the cause.

“Air Defender”: communication as Challenge

In fact, “Air Defender” was about, among other things, whether around 10,000 military personnel from 25 countries could communicate without breakdowns. Overall it seems to have worked. A US soldier at another maneuver site reports that the English of the German hosts is “amazing” – so great.

With so much euphoria, it is not surprising that other top politicians also took a close look at the exercise. Olaf Scholz can also be shown in Jagel how the air forces involved work together.

Incidentally, a visit to a military maneuver provides precisely the images that illustrate the turning point proclaimed by the Chancellor: Scholz on the runway of a military airfield, surrounded by soldiers, with a fighter jet in the background. The SPD politician is happy that “such a big exercise can succeed and everything works” – and that under German leadership.

Air Force Chief satisfied with course

A point that Air Force Chief Ingo Gerhartz also takes up. He calls the maneuver an “important sign to our partners.” From his point of view, Germany has proven by organizing “Air Defender” that it can assume responsibility in the NATO alliance. In his final balance sheet, Gerhartz speaks of a complete success. Of 2000 planned flights, 90 percent took place. For such a large-scale exercise, that’s a top value, says the Air Force chief.

The record of “Air Defender” also includes the fact that there were some teething problems. According to Gerhartz, in order to optimally coordinate different aircraft types – fighter jets, transport machines, reconnaissance aircraft – a common network for data transmission is necessary. And it is “very, very complex” to set up something like that. That didn’t work right away, but only after a day or two.

The learning curve was enormous, according to the air force chief. And that’s exactly what such a maneuver is supposed to do: It’s about finding out where there’s still a problem – so that coordination works in an emergency.

NATO allies train to defend against an attack

The emergency: In the “Air Defender” scenario, this is an attack on NATO. With the maneuver, Germany and its allies wanted to show that they were capable of defending alliance territory. An exercise goal that was achieved from the point of view of the Bundeswehr.

But there are also critical tones. The left, for example, sees the maneuver as a dangerous demonstration of power. Co-party leader Janine Wissler describes the exercise right from the start as a “military saber-rattling that we consider irresponsible”. NATO critics fear that Russia could feel provoked by “Air Defender”.

“Air Defender” also sent a signal to Putin

The Air Force, on the other hand, emphasizes the defensive character of the maneuver: the defense case was tested – and not an attack. In addition, the exercise was not directed against any particular state. However, it is obvious to which actor “Air Defender” should demonstrate NATO’s operational readiness: Russia. In the exercise scenario, there is talk of an “eastern military alliance”. And the US ambassador in Berlin, Amy Gutmann, expressly recognizes the maneuver as a signal to Vladimir Putin.

The FDP politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann sees it similarly. She rates “Air Defender” as exemplary for the future of NATO. The chairman of the defense committee in the Bundestag thinks that further exercises of this kind are necessary. By assuming the leadership role in the maneuver, Germany has proven, in her words, that it has “finally arrived in reality”. In a reality in which the Western allies appear to be preparing for a long period of confrontation.