The first machines took off in Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein: Since the morning, armed forces from 25 countries have been training their combat capability in the air during the “Air Defender” maneuver. There are restrictions for air travelers in Hamburg.
The largest air force exercise in the history of NATO is taking place over Germany. At around 8 a.m., a Bundeswehr transport aircraft of the type “A400M” took off from the Wunstorf air base in Lower Saxony and heralded the maneuver “Air Defender 2023”.
The first fighter jet followed two hours later: an “F-18” took off from Hohn Air Base in Schleswig-Holstein. Until June 23, 25 nations – primarily NATO member states – will take part in the maneuvers under German leadership. According to the Bundeswehr, around 10,000 soldiers and 250 aircraft are involved, including 70 aircraft from Germany. 2000 flights are planned over the ten training days.
Exercise in planning for more than five years
Planning for the maneuver began as early as 2018 – i.e. after the Russian annexation of Crimea, but well before Russia’s war of aggression against the entire Ukraine. The defense of Germany against the attack of a fictitious eastern alliance is practiced.
The so-called OCCASUS alliance is trying to take possession of the port of Rostock, using sabotage actions and the use of special forces supported from the air.
Numerous delays at Hamburg Airport
In Hamburg, the air force exercise led to delays in civil air traffic. Parts of German airspace would be blocked again and again for the exercise, said Hamburg Airport. “For this reason, there are already numerous delays in individual flights in Hamburg.”
So far, the air force exercise has had no consequences for passengers at the airports in Frankfurt am Main, Berlin and Cologne/Bonn. In Düsseldorf, too, everything is running according to plan and without any disruptions. Nuremberg Airport reported individual delays that were not caused by the manoeuvre.
Clear weather helpful with coordination
The German air traffic control had previously assumed in an initial assessment of “minimal effects” of “Air Defender” on civil air traffic in Germany. The clear weather is helpful for coordination, said a spokeswoman. The inspector of the air force, Ingo Gerhartz, had not expected major restrictions on civil air traffic in advance. The air traffic controllers’ union GdF, on the other hand, feared massive effects.
Three airspaces in Germany are directly affected by the exercise: over parts of northern Germany and the North Sea, over parts of eastern Germany and the Baltic Sea, and over parts of south-west Germany.
“We’re doing everything to ensure that it doesn’t escalate”
The maneuver is primarily about proving one’s ability to defend oneself, said the head of the German Air Force, Ingo Gerhartz, on the radio station rbb. A provocation by Russia should be avoided. “We’re doing everything we can to ensure that it doesn’t escalate,” said the lieutenant general. As an example, he added: “We will not make any flights towards Kaliningrad.” Kaliningrad is a Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea, located between Lithuania and Poland.
However, US Ambassador Amy Gutmann made it clear a few days ago that the exercise should also send a signal of strength to the outside world – including to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I would be very surprised if any world leader didn’t take note of what this (the maneuver) shows in terms of the spirit of this alliance, that is, the strength of this alliance. And that includes Mr. Putin.”
According to Gerhartz, the fact that Germany is leading this exercise is partly due to its central location in Europe. On the other hand, there are also certain expectations of Germany in NATO. “We show that we take responsibility. We show that we take action.”