Major air defense exercise starts in Germany, effect on civilian flights unclear

A significant air defense exercise, touted as NATO’s largest in history, has begun in Germany, raising questions about its effects on civilian flights.

Starting on Monday, the Air Defender 23 exercise will run until June 23 and has been planned for some time. Its primary objective is to demonstrate the alliance’s capabilities amidst heightened tensions with Russia.

Over 10,000 participants and 250 aircraft from 25 nations will respond to a simulated attack on a NATO member. The United States, in particular, is deploying 2,000 U.S. Air National Guard personnel and approximately 100 aircraft.

German air force chief Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz emphasized that the exercise sends a clear message to NATO countries and their populations, assuring them that the alliance is capable of swift responses and defending against potential attacks. He revealed that he proposed the exercise in 2018, following Russia’s annexation of Crimea, as a response to the pressing need for NATO to strengthen its defense capabilities.

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022 has prompted NATO to actively prepare for potential attacks on its territory. Sweden, aspiring to join the alliance, and Japan are also participating in the exercise.

Estimations regarding the impact of the exercise on civilian flights have been diverse. Matthias Maas, the head of the German air traffic controllers’ union, GdF, expressed concerns about significant disruptions to civilian aviation operations.

However, Gerhartz refuted these claims, stating that Germany’s air traffic control authority has collaborated with the air force to minimize disruptions as much as possible. He clarified that the exercise is confined to three specific areas, which will not all be utilized simultaneously. Moreover, the exercise will conclude before school vacations commence in any German state.

“I anticipate no cancellations; there might be occasional delays of a few minutes,” Gerhartz assured, dismissing a study referenced by the air traffic controllers’ union that assumes a worst-case scenario in adverse weather conditions, during which military flights would not occur anyway.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about air defense exercise

More about air defense exercise

• NATO Official Website: Link
• German Air Force: Link
• United States Air National Guard: Link
• Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Link
• Air Defender 23 Exercise Details: Link (Note: Replace “example.com” with the actual website providing the exercise details)