NATO to Launch Largest Air Force Deployment Exercise in Europe, Including Japan and Sweden

The German-led "Air Defender 23" will run until June 23 and include over 250 military aircraft from 25 NATO and partner countries, including Japan and Sweden.

The drills are intended to boost interoperability and preparedness to protect against drones and cruise missiles in the case of an attack on cities, airports, or sea ports within NATO territory.

The exercise will focus on "supplementing the permanent United States presence in Europe" and providing training "on a larger scale than what was usually accomplished on the continent." The exercise will take place in Germany, the Czech Republic, Estonia, and Latvia.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will visit pilots based at the Schleswig-Jagel airfield in northern Germany on Friday.