German media: This NATO exercise is unprecedented! 25 countries, 250 aircraft, approximately 10000 people participating in the Guardian | Germany | German media
According to the German news television channel website on June 12th, the NATO "Air Guard" military exercise has kicked off in Germany. The unprecedented scale of this exercise is its participation of 250 aircraft from 25 countries and approximately 10000 people.
The report states that the Wenstov Air Force Base near Hanover is the "logistics center" for this exercise. The logistics personnel there had completed unprecedented preparations before the exercise began: in the past few months, approximately 70000 tons of crushed stone were transported here and laid under a huge temporary oil tank storing aviation kerosene. These oil tanks will provide fuel for the participating fighter jets.
A total of 8 oil tanks can store 2.4 million liters of aviation kerosene. According to logistics personnel from the German Federal Defense Force, 250 aircraft may consume up to 1 million liters of aviation kerosene per day. Captain Peter Perlman said, "I told my children, 'What we're doing here is not a drill for me, but a real battle.' And that's how I approach real combat."
According to the report, Perlman referred to the Ukrainian army, some of which were trained and equipped with German tanks in Germany, fighting 2000 kilometers east. Although this has no impact on the planning of this long-awaited air exercise, it ultimately determines the atmosphere of the exercise.
According to reports, Perlman said, "Military planes on missions to the East can refuel here." This is not an idea, but it will become a reality in the coming days. German Air Force Director Ingo Gerhatz said that on June 12th, the first day of the exercise, fighter jets will be deployed to Lithuania and then return that evening. The Baltic countries do not have their own fighter jets, so NATO has been defending their airspace since 2004.
On June 12th, an F-16 fighter jet participated in the "Air Guard" military exercise in Yager, Germany.
The report states that looking east seems to reflect all aspects of the "Air Guard" military exercise. But the German Air Force Director also emphasized that this exercise has no intention of sending a signal against either side. Gerhard said, "This is a signal to us, to within NATO, that we have the ability to defend our country and the alliance."
According to a report on the website of the German newspaper Time on June 11th, the "Air Guard" military exercise is a so-called transfer exercise of the NATO Air Force - and the largest air exercise in NATO's over 70 years of establishment. It is scheduled to be held in European airspace from June 12th to 23rd, under the command of the German Air Force.
The German Federal Defense Force stated that the purpose of the exercise is to conduct air action training with allied armed forces. The German Air Force wrote on its official website that the core of this large-scale exercise is to "effectively test the military's air response and operational capabilities, as well as its ability to protect civilians from medium range missile attacks.".
The report states that participating officers and soldiers will simulate a collective defense scenario under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. According to this provision, an armed attack on a NATO member will be considered an attack on the entire alliance.
