Impressive photos from the Greek participation in the largest to date NATO air exercise "Air Defender" were released by the Greek Defense Ministry, pointing out that from Wednesday 07 to Thursday 22 June 2023, and in the context of the broader planning of the Greek Defense Ministry in terms of international cooperation, the Armed Forces participated in the Multinational Exercise named "AIR DEFENDER 23" conducted under the Command of the German Air Force.
The Distinguished Visitors Day (DV Day) of the Exercise took place on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at the 51st Tactical Air Wing "IMMELMMAN" Air Base in Germany, and was attended by GEA Chief Vice Admiral (I) Themistocles Bourolias.
"AIR DEFENDER 23" is of the INVITEX - LIVEX type (Invitation to an Exercise - Live Exercise) and aims to strengthen cooperation between the air forces of NATO member states and partners, as well as to project the air power of the Alliance. It is the largest Air Multinational Exercise in the history of NATO with the participation of 250 Aircraft (A/F), and is connected with the NATO Exercises "RAMSTEIN DUST 23" and "RAMSTEIN GUARD 23".
The Armed Forces of Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, the United Kingdom, the USA, Japan, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Norway, the Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey, the Czech Republic and Finland. Greece participated with 3 A/F F-16 and an echelon of 38 personnel, as well as with 1 Officer as a link (Liaison Officer – LNO) in the staff of conducting the Exercise (JFAC - Joint Force Air Component) in Kalkar, Germany.
During its duration, the Armed Forces participated in air missions, as below:
- Offensive Counter Air – OCA.
- Defensive Counter Air – DCA.
- Close Air Support – CAS.
- Joint Terminal Attack Controller.
Let us point out here that the Press Directorate of NATO made a special mention of the F-16 fighters of the Hellenic Air Force. Let us remind you that in this particular exercise Greece is participating with three F-16 fighters from the base of Nea Anchialos and specifically 3 F-16 Block 50 aircraft of the 347 Squadron from the 111th Fighter Wing.
US National Guard Squadron Leader Jason Atinger, 190th Fighter Squadron specifically says, “Air Defender is the largest air exercise since the end of the Cold War and it is unique for us to participate in this major exercise, working with our partners in NATO, up to 25 nations, I think 10,000 total personnel and over 240 aircraft. So it is a very big exercise and we are honored to be a part of it. For us, we're just strengthening those relationships with our NATO partners. Germany is our host, but we're starting to work with 25 other nations in total, and this is the best time to get together and, you know, practice those skills. It's like a big power exercise, if you think of something like Red Flag from Nellis (US Air Force Base), but on an international scale, so it's an even bigger exercise. We like to say, "train like you fight," and that, you know, is probably an exaggeration, but really, in my 25 years in the Air Force, I don't think I've ever been on a single deployment where it was just one-sided, just in the U.S. States. We have always been, in some capacity, either a joint or combined force, you with some other nation or some other service. So to do it out here at their home base and work with them outside of our comfort zone, our home base, makes us that much better."
