From 12 to 23 June 2023, Air Defender 2023 took place across Germany. With 25 nations participating, around 10,000 personnel and approximately 250 aircraft, it was the largest air exercise in NATO history. Three main operating hubs were used in Germany: Schleswig/Hohn, Wunstorf and Lechfeld. This report focuses on the operations conducted from Hohn Air Base.

Used bases
Schleswig and Hohn were used by the participating units operating in exercise areas COMAO 1 and 3, which covered the eastern and northern airspace. Aircraft stationed at Lechfeld were tasked with operations in COMAO 2, covering the southern part of Germany. Wunstorf was home to the transport aircraft, which flew missions between the various bases involved in the exercise.Additional aircraft operated from other bases, including Geilenkirchen, Laage, Neuburg, Ramstein and Spangdahlem in Germany, Prestwick in the United Kingdom, Volkel in the Netherlands and Čáslav in the Czech Republic.

Hohn Air Base
During Air Defender 2023, Hohn was temporarily home to a wide variety of aircraft from several participating nations. The units operating from Hohn included:

• The US Navy, with two EA-18Gs, four F/A-18Es and two F/A-18Fs;
• The Massachusetts Air National Guard, with eight F-15Cs, including six carrying the MA tail code, one with OT and one with ZZ;
• The Louisiana Air National Guard, with eight F-15Cs, all carrying the JZ tail code;
• The Finnish Air Force, with four F/A-18Cs;
• The Royal Air Force, with four Typhoon FGR4s, which were present during the first week of the exercise.

The combination of US Navy EA-18G Growlers and F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, USAF F-15C Eagles, Finnish F/A-18 Hornets and RAF Typhoons made Hohn one of the most interesting locations for aviation enthusiasts during Air Defender 2023.

Great photo opportunities
Hohn Air Base offered excellent photographic opportunities along almost the entire length of the runway. Aircraft taxiing, taking off and landing could be photographed throughout the day, providing plenty of opportunities to capture the wide variety of aircraft involved in the exercise.

For military aviation enthusiasts, Air Defender 2023 was a unique opportunity to see aircraft and units that are rarely encountered in the skies over Europe. The presence of the US Navy Growlers and Super Hornets alongside the F-15 Eagles, Finnish Hornets and RAF Typhoons made Hohn particularly attractive to photographers and spotters.

The large number of military personnel and aviation enthusiasts visiting the area also had a noticeable effect on the local economy. Hotels, restaurants and other businesses in the surrounding area benefited from the influx of visitors during the exercise.