Air Defender 2023 was the biggest held NATO exercise since it's existence. The exercise focused on Germany: in a scenario in which it was attacked and backed up by US National Guard units. Practically all other NATO members also participated.

After a major transport maneuver from CONUS to Germany, in which many transport aircraft and AAR-aircraft transferred the aircraft and support, a large combat exercise of two weeks started.

Aircraft operated from Germany and other countries and flew all imaginable missions into East Germany and Poland. Even Forward Operating Bases in Lithuania and Romania were actively used. During these two weeks I visited three different main hubs in Germany.