NATO has commenced its largest-ever military air exercise, Air Defender 23, which is set to run until June 23. Over 20 countries and more than 250 aircraft, including F-35 fighter bombers from the USA and the Netherlands, are participating in the exercises, according to Bloomberg.
The training involves approximately 10,000 soldiers and is taking place in four regions of Germany, as well as in the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. Some airfields hosting Air Defender 23 will experience partial closures to accommodate the exercises, with German airline Lufthansa making necessary preparations, AFP reported.
German Air Force General Ingo Gerhartz stated that the drills, originally planned for 2018, were partly in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. However, he emphasized that the exercises were "not aimed at anyone," as highlighted by AFP.
German aviation specialist Clemens Bollinger noted that the integration of German civilian and military control tower operators has been in place for the past 30 years. He explained that air force comrades and flight controllers maintain constant communication with each other, as reported by Deutsche Welle.
In addition to Air Defender 23, it was previously announced that the Platinum Wolf-2023 military exercises, organized in cooperation with the USA and ten other NATO countries, will be held in Serbia from June 16 to June 30.
Meanwhile, Russia and China are planning joint military exercises in 2023. On June 6, the two countries conducted air force exercises over the Sea of Japan, with journalists noting China's significance as Russia's main partner amid tensions with the West. China has refrained from condemning the attack on Ukraine or calling for the withdrawal of Russian troops.
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