In two weeks, large-scale exercises of the air forces of NATO countries will begin in Germany, which will become the largest such maneuvers in the history of the Alliance.

 This is reported by Spiegel.

 The Air Defender 2023 exercise will be held under the leadership of Germany from June 12 to 23. Almost all maneuvers - 90% - are planned over the territory of Germany and over the coastal areas of the North and Baltic seas.

 About 250 planes and helicopters will take part in the exercises, of which about a hundred are from the US Air Force.

 The inspector of the German Air Force, Ingo Gerharz, noted that the exercises should demonstrate the allies' readiness to react quickly in case of need.

 According to him, "only isolated maneuvers" are planned near Russian airspace and only defensive scenarios will be worked out.

 "Of course, it would be a provocation to simulate departures in the direction of Kaliningrad. But we will not do that," he said.

 The exercises are planned in close coordination with civil controllers and Eurocontrol, so that the maneuvers create the least inconvenience for civil aviation.