Air Defender 2023, the biggest exercise in NATO’s history, has begun. This time the Air Defender 2023 exercise is being organized in Germany. This exercise will continue till June 23. It is considered to be NATO’s biggest war preparation against Russia. About 10,000 soldiers and 250 aircraft from 25 countries participate in this exercise.
These soldiers and aircraft will practice a mock attack on Russia during this. The US alone has sent 2000 Air National Guard and about 100 aircraft. Fighter aircraft of non-NATO countries Sweden and Japan are also participating in this exercise.
Germany Said – The Protection Of People Is Most Important For Us
German Air Force Chief Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, who played a major role in organizing this exercise, said that this exercise was a signal. Above all for us is the protection of our citizens. For NATO countries, we are in a position to react quickly. With such exercises, we can defend the alliance in every case. Gerhartz said that he had proposed the exercise in 2018, but for one reason or another, the exercise kept getting postponed and is now being held in 2023.
Civil Flights Likely To Be Disrupted
Civilian flights are expected to be disrupted due to this exercise from NATO. However, experts’ assessments regarding his figures differ. Matthias Maas, head of the German Air Traffic Controllers Union GdF, has said that this will undoubtedly have a huge impact on the operation of civil aviation.
However, German Lieutenant General Nai denied this. He said that in collaboration with the Air Force, Germany’s Air Traffic Control Authority has made extensive preparations for the safe movement of civilian aircraft.
NATO’s Air Exercise Will Be Held In Three Areas
The German lieutenant colonel said the exercise was limited to three areas. All three of these areas will not be used at a time. This practice will end before the school holidays in any German state. I hope no civilian flights will be cancelled; only minor changes can be made in their timings. He stressed that the association of air traffic controllers had projected a worst-case scenario, which is impossible.
