From 12 June to 23 June, 25 nations with 250 aircraft and 10,000 soldiers will take part in the NATO exercise "Air Defender 23".
1 / 12Around 250 aircraft are in action during the NATO exercise "Air Defender 23" in June. According to the Bundeswehr, the Air Force is participating with 64 machines. Among them are 16 Tornadoes, which are used for reconnaissance and combat. The delivery of the first PA-200 Tornadoes to the Bundeswehr began in 1981 and was completed in 1992. A total of 357 multi-role combat aircraft were delivered to the Air Force, but also to the Navy. The speed is up to Mach 1.3 in low-level flight. In the long term, the Tornadoes are to be replaced by Eurojets and F-35s from US production. © dpa2 / 12According to the Bundeswehr, the Eurofighter forms "the backbone of the German fighter aircraft fleet". The 138 fighter jets are "a core element in ensuring the future contribution of the Air Force to the required capability profile of the armed forces and the associated alliance obligations". The Eurofighter can also accelerate into the supersonic range without afterburner and fly supersonic for long periods of time. In the NATO exercise "Air Defender 23", 30 Eurofighters of the Bundeswehr are used. © Monika Skolimowska/dpa3 / 12Five Airbus A400Ms will also be involved in NATO's "Air Defender 23" exercise. The A400M is a military transport aircraft that can carry up to 114 soldiers. According to the Bundeswehr, it is also possible to transport a wide variety of material such as a Tiger combat helicopter, four Wolf off-road vehicles or a Puma infantry fighting vehicle. The range of applications also includes uses as tanker and hospital aircraft. For example, a Eurofighter can dock with the A400M in flight to be refuelled at speeds of more than 500 km/h. In addition, the A400M can also transfer patients requiring medical care. © Moritz Frankenberg/dpa4 / 12The F-15 Eagle, which made its maiden flight on July 27, 1972 and has been in service with the US Air Force since 1976, is almost indestructible. At that time, it was the world's first air superiority fighter. Their superiority was based on their ability to approach a target at high speed and, if necessary, to be able to quickly free themselves from critical situations. The F-15 has an invaluable advantage that even the most modern fighter jets of the latest generation do not have: it can carry many more weapons at a lower price. © Joe Giddens/dpa5 / 12The F-16 fighter jet is one of the most powerful military jets in the world and is used in more than two dozen countries. The machines of the US company Lockheed can be used both in air defense and against targets on the ground, that is, to push back enemy formations. The F-16 is capable of flying even at extremely low altitudes and in any weather. The first prototype took to the skies in 1974, and in 1979 the F-16 entered service with the US Air Force. Currently, more than 2800 units are used. © KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/afp6 / 12The United States and the Netherlands are taking part in the NATO exercise "Air Defender 23" with F-35 fighter jets, among others. The stealth multirole fighter aircraft from the manufacturer Lockheed Martin are available in three variants: as a conventional fighter jet (F-35A), vertical take-off and landing (F-35B) and as an aircraft carrier version (F-35C). The top speed is Mach 1.6. Compared to older, conventional fighter jets such as the Tornado or the Eurofighter, the F-35 hasembossed stealth characteristics. Due to the shape and choice of materials, the aircraft can therefore only be detected very late by enemy radars. © Harald Tittel/dpa7 / 12For more than 40 years, the U.S. Air Force has relied on the Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II (german Thunderbolt), also known as the "Warthog". The twin-engine subsonic jet is intended for use against ground targets, primarily to combat armored vehicles. The ground attack aircraft is to remain in operation for a few more years until it is replaced by the F-35 Lightning II. © Urbanandsport/Imago8 / 12Finland, the youngest NATO member, is also taking part in the "Air Defender 23" exercise - with four F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets. The "Hornet" is a twin-engine fighter aircraft manufactured by McDonnell Douglas from the USA. The aircraft is distinguished by its flexibility in combating ground, sea and air targets at long distances. The fighter jet was primarily designed for use on aircraft carriers of the United States Navy, but it is now also used by other nations. The first flight took place in 1978, serial production began in 1980. Imago9 / 12Hungary takes part in the NATO exercise "Air Defender 23" with the Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen. © The manoeuvrable multi-role fighter aircraft, which is available as a single and double seater, can carry all common weapons of the NATO countries and engage air and ground targets. A big plus of the Gripen is that it is not necessarily dependent on an airfield, but can also take off and land on makeshift runways, motorways and unpaved roads. The term JAS stands for Jakt, Attack och Spaning (Swedish for "hunting, attacking and reconnaissance"). © Sandor Ujvari/dpa10 / 12The C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft from the US manufacturer Lockheed Corporation has been in series production since 1956, making it one of the longest built aircraft in the world. The first flight took place on August 23, 1954. To date, more than 40 versions have been developed. Thanks to its robust landing gear, the C-130 is designed to land on unprepared surfaces such as sandy beaches or grass runways. © JUAN MABROMATA/afp11 / 12The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is still indispensable for the air refueling of the US Air Force. The machine is also used to transport cargo and troops. It can also be used for medical evacuations. Initially intended as an interim solution in 1954, the model was converted many times and equipped with more modern turbofan engines. Almost all the internal fuel can be pumped through the flying boom. © Sam Upshaw/Imago12 / 12In the near future, Boeing's KC-46 Pegasus is expected to form the backbone of the U.S. tanker fleet. At first, however, production was anything but smooth, and the Luftwaffe refused acceptance several times due to quality defects. In the meantime, however, the machine is ready for use. "The combat-capable KC-46A is changing the role of the tanker aircraft for the 21st century," program manager James Burgess proudly announced in early 2023. © Rob Edgcumbe/Imago
