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Monday, August 28, 2023

Air Defender 2023 NATOs largest Air exercise, a full photo report from this unique event.


"Air Defender sends a clear message that NATO is ready to defend every inch of its Allied territory."

Dubbed as a transatlantic reinforcement of NATO.

Air Defender had been in the planning since early 2018. On June 12th, 2023, it witnessed its first operational flying day. With 250 operational aircraft, many from United States Air National Guard units that had been air-to-air refuelled across the Atlantic in the previous week with their F-15C, F-16C and A-10C. The United States Navy bought EA-18G, F/A-18F, and F/A-18E. European forces, including the Finnish airforce, sent four of their F/A-18Cs. The Hungarian Air Force had JAS-39C Grippens present, whilst Turkey supplied F-16s and the United Kingdom RAF Typhoon FGR.4s. 
The fast jet epicentre was set in Northern Germany at the Bundeswehrs Luftwaffe Hohn (ETNH) and Schleswig-Jagel (ETNS) airbases. 

This photo report features just the aircraft seen and photographed at these two Northern airbases, further South at Lechfeld and Spangdahlem, where Greek F-16s and F-35s from the Vermont Air National Guard, respectively. Neuburg had a trio of AldA EF-2000s alongside its home-based aircraft, and Laage had a pair of Italian F-2000S working alongside their host's EF-2000s.

The Luftwaffe supplied large numbers of aircraft whilst other air assets flew missions from their European home bases to support Air Defender 23. A total of 25 Nations took part in this vast exercise.
   
While capturing the photos below, one could not help reflecting on bi-gone years across Europe and the UK during the early nineteen seventies and eighties when many types of USAF aircraft filled the skies. 


86-0154 MA F-15C USAF

86-0154/MA F-15C USAF 131st FS/MA ANG.
We are getting underway with some remarkable departures out of Hohn.

86-0010/MA F-15C USAF

86-0010/MA F-15C USAF 131st FS/MA ANG.
With a view of the packed ramp.

85-0110/ZZ F-15C USAF

85-0110/ZZ F-15C USAF 131st FS/MA ANG still in the colours of 44th FS/ZZ

82-0022/JZ F-15C USAF

82-0022/JZ F-15C USAF 122nd/LA ANG.
 "Air Defender 23" 
 
86-0163/MA F-15C USAF

86-0163/MA F-15C USAF 131st FS/MA ANG. 
 Airborne on the first morning of "Air Defender 23."

85-0101/MA F-15C USAF

85-0101/MA F-15C USAF 131st FS/MA ANG.

NATOs largest Exercise

On Sunday, June 11th, F-15Cs of the 122nd FS/LA ANG, F-15s 131 FS/MA ANG, and F/A-18Cs from HavLLv-31 Finnish Air Force were lined up.

85-0126/OT 86-0168/MA F-15C USAF

Midday on Monday, the heat haze distortion made for challenging photography as 85-0126 and 86-0168, both F-15C USAF 131st FS/MA ANG taxis for take off.

85-0126/OT F-15C USAF

85-0126/OT F-15C former 85th FS here flying with the 131st FS/MA ANG.

83-0036/JZ F-15C USAF 122nd LA/ANG

83-0036/JZ F-15C USAF 122nd/LA ANG.

83-0009/JZ F-15C USAF

83-0009 F-15C USAF 122nd FS/LA ANG powers out of Hohn as EA-18G 166943/AJ-500 USN VAQ-142 is seen taxiing for take off.

85-0112/JZ F-15C USAF

 85-0112/JZ F-15C USAF 122nd FS/LA ANG. A redhot take off.


82-0022/JZ F-15C USAF

82-0022/JZ F-15C USAF 122nd/LA ANG. Incredibly low as it takes off, the four Finnish airforce HävLLv 31 F-18Cs are seen behind. 

169398 AJ-404 FA-18E VFA-87 USNavy

169398/AJ-404 F/A-18E USN VFA-87.

166781 AJ-305 FA-18E VFA-31 USNavy

166781/AJ-305 F/A-18E USN VFA-31.

166840 AJ-307 FA18E VFA-312 USNavy

166840/AJ-307 F/A-18E USN VFA-31.

168930 AJ-213 FA-18F VFA-213 USNavy

168930/AJ-213 F/A-18F USN VFA-213.

168930 AJ-213 FA-18F VFA-213 USNavy

168930/AJ-213 F/A-18F USN VFA-213.

17-5904 C-130J USAF 181st AS TX/ANG

17-5904 C-130J-30 USAF 181st AS/TX ANG arriving in connection with the broken C-130H from the 154th/AR ANG parked on the northside of Hohn.

168271 AJ-503 EA-18G Growler VAQ-142 USNavy

 168271/AJ-503 EA-18G "Growler" USN VAQ-142. Preparing for action.

168271 AJ-503 EA-18G Growler VAQ-142 USNavy

168271/AJ-503 EA-18G USN VAQ-142. Growlers away.

168271 AJ-503 EA-18G Growler VAQ-142 USNavy

168271/AJ-503 EA-18G USN VAQ-142. Heavey and staying low give a nice view of the busy ramp.

166943 AJ-500 EA-18G Growler VAQ-142 US Navy

 166943/AJ-500 EA-18G "Growler" USN VAQ-142. Hi-vis, high entertainment.

166943 AJ-500 EA-18G Growler  VAQ-142 US Navy

166943/AJ-500 EA-18G USN VAQ-142.

166943 AJ500 EA18G Growler USN VAQ142

166943/AJ-500 EA-18G USN VAQ-142.

HN-407 07 F-18C Finnish Air Force

HN-407/07 F-18C HävLLv 31 Finnish airforce.

HN-405 05 F-18C HävLLv 31 Finnish Air Force

HN-405/05 F-18C HävLLv 31 Finish airforce.

HN-433 33 F-18C Finnish Air Force

HN433/33 F-18C HävLLv 31 Finnish airforce.

USAF 131st F-15Cs
  
The 131st FS/MAs are returning to Hohn late in the morning.

84-0016 F-15C USAF

84-0016 F-15C USAF 131st FS/MA ANG scorching rubber.

86-0168 F-15C USAF

86-0168 F-15C USAF 131st FS/MA ANG dropping back into Hohn.

85-0126 F-15C USAF

85-0126 F-15C USAF 131st FS/MA ANG. Still wearing 85th FS markings.

90-1798 C-130H2 USAF 180th AS MO/ANG

90-1798 C-130H2 USAF 'St Josephs"180th AS/MO ANG.

EA-18Gs VAQ-142 USS Gerald Ford Battle group

EA-18Gs from VAQ-142 for the break.

166943 EA-18G AJ-500 VAQ-142 US Navy

166943/AJ-500 leads 168271/AJ-503 EA-18Gs VAQ-142 USN for landing.

166943 AJ-500 EA-18G VAQ-142 US Navy

166943/AJ-500 EA-18G VAQ-142 USN.

168271 AJ-503 EA-18G VAQ-142 US Navy

168271/AJ-503 EA-18G VAQ-142 USN.

168271 AJ-503 EA-18G VAQ-142 US Navy

168271/AJ-503 EA-18G VAQ-142 USN.

62-0017/JZ F-15C USAF

62-0017 F-15C  shucks! It must be great to show off!

62-0017/JZ F-15C USAF

62-0017/JZ F-15C USAF 122nd FS/LA ANG. mission over.

ZK344/344 Typhoon FGR.4 RAF

ZK344/344 Typhoon FGR.4 RAF 1 Sqn.

HN-433/33 F-18C Finnish Air Force

HN-433/33 F-18C HävLLa 31 Finnish Airforce with one of the civil-based Learjets below.

HN-405/05 F-18C Finnish Air Force

HN-405/05 F-18C HävLLv 31 Finnish airforce.

90-1798 C-130H2 USAF 180th AS MO/ANG

90-1798 C-130H2 'St Josephs' USAF 180th AS/MO ANG was only on the ground for minutes before departing for Wunstorf airbase.

80-0258/MI A-10C USAF

80-0258/MI A-10C USAF 107th FS MI ANG.

81-0998/MI A-10C USAF

81-0998/MI A-10C USAF 107th FS MI ANG.

80-0258/MI A-10C USAF

80-0258/MI A-10C USAF 107th FS MI ANG.

80-0258/MI A-10C USAF

80-0258/MI A-10C USAF 107th FS MI ANG.

78-0641/MI A-10C USAF

78-0641/MI A-10C USAF 107th FS MI ANG.

81-0998/MI A-10C USAF

81-0998 A-10C USAF 107th FS MI ANG. Slides into Schleswig-Jagel airbase.

78-0689/MI A-10C USAF

78-0689 A-10C 107th FS MI ANG.

80-0221/MI A-10C USAF

80-0221 A-10C 107th FS MI ANG.

F-16CMs SD/ANG USAF

F-16CMs from the USAF 175th FS/SD ANG preparing to break for their landing.

89-0064/SD F-16CM USAF

89-0064/SD F-16CM 'Lobo 13" USAF 175th FS/SD ANG.

89-0105/SD F-16CM USAF

89-0105/SD F-16CM USAF 175th FS/SD ANG.

89-0125/SD F-16CM USAF

89-0125/SD F-16CM USAF 175th FS/SD ANG.

89-0452/SD F-16CM USAF

89-0452/SD F-16CM USAF 175th FS/SD ANG.

F-16CMs CO/ANG USAF

Four 120th FS/CO ANG F-16CMs are on the break for landing at Schleswig-Jagel.

86-0370/CO F-16CM USAF

86-0370/CO F-16CM USAF 120th FS/CO ANG.

87-0336/AL F-16CM USAF

87-0336/CO F-16CM 120th FS/CO ANG. It is seen landing and wearing its former full colours from the 
100th FS/AL ANG.

86-0370/CO F-16CM USAF

86-0370/CO F-16CM USAF 120th FS/CO ANG.

86-0339/CO F-16CM USAF

86-0339/CO F-16CM USAF 120th FS/CO ANG. 'Have glass' colour.

88-0229/CO F-16CM USAF

88-0229/CO F-16CM USAF 120th FS/CO ANG. 100 years, special colours.

38 and 39 JAS39Cs Hungarian Air Force

38/39 JAS-39Cs Mh.59 Sz.D REB HuAF.
 
38 JAS39C Hungarian Air Force

38 JAS-39C Mh.59 Sz.D REB HuAF.

39 JAS39C Hungarian Air Force

39 JAS-39C Mh.59 Sz.D REB HuAF.

44 JAS39D Hungarian Air Force

44 JAS-39D Mh.59 Sz.D REB HuAF.

89-0026 F-16C Turkish Air Force

89-0026  F-16C 151filo/20flt TuAF.

90-0012 F-16C Turkish Air Force

90-0012 F-16C 151filo/20flt TuAF.

46+57 Tornado ECR TLG51 GAF

46+57 Tornado ECR TLG51 GAF landing at its Schleswig-Jagel.

46+46 Tornado ECR TLG51 GAF

46+46 Tornado ECR TLG51 GAF.

46+23 Tornado ECR TLG51 GAF

46+23 Tornado ECR TLG51 GAF.

80-0010/MA F-15C USAF

80-0010/MA F-15C USAF 131st FS/MA ANG
Lands back at Hohn on day three of this massive exercise.

85-0110/ZZ F-15C USAF

85-0110/ZZ F-15C USAF 131st FS/MA ANG still in the colours of 44th FS/ZZ
Recovering to Hohn.

820017/JZ F-15C USAF

82-0017/JZ F-15C USAF 122nd/LA ANG.

820017/JZ F-15C USAF

82-0017/JZ F-15C USAF 122nd/LA ANG. Keeping the nose up.

86-0168/MA F-15C USAF

86-0168//MA F-15C 131st FS/MA ANG.
Behind three of the four RAF Typhoon FGR.4s. Two were joining this afternoon's sortie. The RAF only participated in week one of the exercise.

86-0154/MA F-15C USAF

86-0154/MA F-15C 131st FS/MA ANG.
The C-130H2 from 154th 154th AATC/AR "ANG/AFRC Test Centre undergoing an engine test is seen behind. It had been awaiting spare parts for several days after going tech.
 
77+05 Airbus H145M HSG64 GAF

77+05 H.145M from HSG64 passes over Hohn's runway whilst returning to Lechfeld.

86-0163/MA F-15C USAF

86-0163/MA F-15C 131st FS/MA ANG.
An almost empty ramp after the mass afternoon launch.

89-9102 C-130H2 154th AATC

89-9102 C-130H2 154th AATC/AR "ANG/AFRC Test Centre.
Late Wednesday, it finally gets airborne and returns to Wunstorf airbase.

ZK322/322 Typhoon FGR.4 RAF

ZK322/322 Typhoon FGR.4 RAF 1 Sqn.
  
82-0010/JZ F-15C USAF

82-0010/JZ F-15C USAF 122nd/LA ANG.

82-0036JZ F-15C USAF

82-0036/JZ F-15C USAF 122nd/LA ANG.
Completes the afternoon departures.

I am still determining if I will see another European exercise with this mixed aircraft type and unit variation. It was absolutely brilliant, and we were so blessed with the weather.

HAPPY DAYS IN INDEED! 
























































































































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