From May 5 to May 15, 2017, the Austrian Überwachungsgeschwader (Surveillance Wing) from Zeltweg was hosted by the German Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 71 “Richthofen” at Wittmund Air Base. The Austrian Air Force arrived with 130 soldiers and seven Eurofighter Typhoons. That is almost half of the Austrian Typhoon force, which consists of only 15 Typhoons.

Objectives
This deployment to North Germany was much more than a social visit; it served several critical tactical purposes:
– Training Airspace: Austria’s small landmass and strict noise regulations make it difficult to train for supersonic maneuvers and complex “Dogfighting” (DACT). The vast restricted training areas over the North Sea provided the Austrian pilots with the freedom they lacked at home.
– Knowledge Exchange: By flying alongside the experienced German Luftwaffe pilots of the “Richthofen” wing, the Austrian crews could refine their tactics and compare operational procedures.
– Logistical Exercise: It was a “test of readiness” for the Austrian logistics chain, proving they could deploy, maintain, and operate a detachment entirely from a foreign base.

Training over the North Sea with help of A-4s
The core of the exercise focused on engaging airborne targets over the North Sea with live ammunition, practicing realistic air-to-air weapons employment. In this training the at Wittmund Air Base stationed A-4s from Discovery Air Defence participated to tow targets for the cannon firing training.