NATO To Hold The Largest Air Exercise In Its 74 Year History

A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor assigned to the 90th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron flies alongside two Polish F-16s in formation during NATO Air Shielding media day, Oct. 12, 2022, at Łask Air Base, Poland. U.S. Air Force / Staff Sgt. Danielle Sukhlall

Defense One: NATO Plans Record Air Exercise as Finland Joins Alliance

Air Defender 2023 exercise will include 100 U.S. aircraft, 2,000 troops, in “largest transatlantic movement” the Air National Guard has ever done.

As NATO brings Finland into the fold, the U.S. and Germany are preparing for the largest deployment of U.S. air forces to Europe since the formation of the U.S.-led security alliance.

The upcoming exercise, Air Defender 2023, will test the Air National Guard’s “ability to rapidly deploy and rapidly employ [forces],” similar to what the United States would have to do if the Ukraine war spreads to NATO, said Lt. Gen. Michael Loh, director of the Air National Guard. “It is the largest transatlantic movement we've done.”

The Air National Guard, which maintains units for “prompt mobilization during war” in addition to its role in homeland defense, will send about 100 aircraft to Germany for the 10-day exercise in June, Loh said during a press conference Tuesday. The exercise will include aircraft the U.S. is about to retire, such as A-10s and F-15Cs, as well as new aircraft, such as F-35s, upgraded F-16s, and KC-46s, Loh said.

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Update #1: NATO to Hold Its Largest-Ever Air Exercises in June (Antiwar.com)

Update #2: Largest air exercise in NATO history to include hundreds of Guardsmen (Air Force Times)

WNU Editor: Exercise Air Defender is slated for June 12-23.