Title: NATO’s Largest-Ever Aerial Wargame Has Russia, China in Mind - WSJ
This is a lot of fun, a “high” in fact, as many have said about war, as we live day to day wondering how long we can wage “Total War” in all the "war domains.” Until all this “War Preparedness” escalates to nuclear war, however briefly. Or all out US conventional war before the escalation. But we’re ready for either. But just so Biden doesn’t get all the "credit,” I’m putting a word in for the Republicans as being even more aggressive than Biden, in every “domain of war,” as they’ve always been over the Democrats, even after Democrats adopt Goldwaterism as the “political theory” they base their actions upon.
Since Trump had to keep the buffoons chanting that he was “ending the endless wars,” let’s start with his administration:
No, I don’t share The American Conservative’s “defense related news, as it ideologically originates at Hillside College or the Claremont Institute and I try to stay away from their “perception management” presenting Trumpism and the New Right as “peaceniks,” in refusing to ratify their lies.
| Photographs and video by Patrick Wack for The Wall Street Journal
BERLIN—NATO is conducting the largest air force exercise in its history in the skies above Europe in wargames that allied commanders say are producing valuable lessons for deterring potential Russian and Chinese aggression.
An American Air National Guard C-130 lands at the Wunstorf German air force base during the exercises. German officials say the goal is to deter Russia from expanding its conflict in Ukraine into NATO territory.
The exercises test what is known as interoperability–the capacity for forces to work seamlessly together during military operations.
The Germany-led exercises involve around 250 aircraft—including strategic bombers and more than 10,000 troops from members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as well as Japan and Sweden—simulating a response to an attack from an adversary resembling Russia.
German paratroopers prepare before loading into C-130s at the Saarbrücken airport.
German paratroopers about to board C-130s at Saarbrücken. The large aircraft, one of NATO’s main tactical airlifters, perform multiple missions during the exercise.
The paratroopers prepare to jump during drills that bring the soldiers to the edge of NATO airspace.
During the two weeks of drills that end Friday, allied planes have flown sorties in the Baltics along the borders between NATO states and Russia, and around the Black Sea, practicing dropping paratroopers, bombing enemy defenses and countering missile and jet-fighter attacks.
German plane spotters look on during the exercises. The large-scale drills involve over 250 aircraft flying three missions a day over Germany.
The lessons learned won’t only be used in the defense of Europe, but also in the protection of allies such as South Korea and Japan from adversaries including China, said Lt. Gen. Michael A. Loh, director of the U.S. Air National Guard, which provided 100 aircraft, including B-1 strategic bombers and F-35 jet fighters to the drills.
The cockpit of an American C-130 transport plane flying over western Germany. Russia’s attack on Ukraine has been a wake-up call for NATO members. With the recent addition of Finland, the alliance now has a much longer border with Russia.
Germany’s air force chief, Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz, who conceived and hosted the exercise, said the effort wasn’t only aimed at projecting strength to potential adversaries such as Russia and China, but also to reassure the citizens of NATO members that the alliance is ready and willing to defend itself.
American Air National Guard and German Luftwaffe personnel observe American F-16 jet fighters and A-10 Thunderbolts about to take off from the Schleswig air base in northern Germany. The F-16s rehearse engaging enemy aircraft and missiles, while the A-10s practice destroying targets on the ground.
First Lt. Alyssa Majuta, an F-16 jet-fighter pilot from the Colorado National Guard, on the tarmac at Schleswig.
“We are exercising the defense of our country and of our Alliance in order for everyone to take seriously our pledge to protect every centimeter of our territory,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said during a visit to the exercise.
American F-16 jet fighters and A-10 Thunderbolts prepare to take off from Schleswig.
Left: American personnel at the Wunstorf air base. Center: A C-130 takes part in the exercises. Right: American transporter planes undergo maintenance after a paratrooper drop.
The wargames demonstrate NATO’s ability to quickly move troops and hardware over large distances to counter an attack. This sends a clear signal to Russia and others that NATO territory and airspace is a “red line,” said Gerhartz, Germany’s air chief.
