Defender (Europe) 2023

[falcon]

Hello,
Just saw a message from the 21st Theater Sustainment Command that they offloaded equipment and choppers in Rota for the defender23 exercise!
seen where some CH-47's and talks about several Blackhawks. on FB and Youtube there is some footage but iam not able to post here for some reason..

grtzz

[AK01]

Thanks for pointing us at this footage Falcon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj5PzaI5rWA

[Canberra TT.18]

Hello,
Just saw a message from the 21st Theater Sustainment Command that they offloaded equipment and choppers in Rota for the defender23 exercise!
seen where some CH-47's and talks about several Blackhawks. on FB and Youtube there is some footage but iam not able to post here for some reason..

grtzz

Defender 23 is not the same exercise as AIR Defender 23.

https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stori ... in-europe/

Not sure Air Defender 23 is part of Defender 23. Might be.

[Sjoerd]

https://europeanwesternbalkans.com/2023 ... -exercise/

Indications that the main arena for this exercise is southern europe/Balkans. That would also explain the fact Rota is used for the drop off.

[Fishbed_9307]

https://europeanwesternbalkans.com/2023 ... -exercise/

Indications that the main arena for this exercise is southern europe/Balkans. That would also explain the fact Rota is used for the drop off.

The next inbound Atlantic Resolve rotation should come through Spain and as 3rd CAB had a color casing ceremony at Hunter AAF on the 27th of March this could well be the new detachment. A bit early though as I would expect them at the end of May.

[AK01]

The video shows Army Reserve CH-47F's, spokesman is 5-159th AVN, so i guess this is an extra deployment.
But this topic was about Air Defender, so perhaps Admin can split topics in Air defender, and Defender Europe?

[Key]

Done!

[AK01]

Thanks.
Two CH-47F's identified so far flying circuits at Rota.
07-08723/AE5242 and 11-08413/AE5991 both belong to the 5/159h AVN ARC.

[wonju666]

Thanks.
Two CH-47F's identified so far flying circuits at Rota.
07-08723/AE5242 and 11-08413/AE5991 both belong to the 5/159h AVN ARC.

07-08723 also seen in various port operations pics, so are 11-08843, (11-08)845

[raameagle]

‘Freighttrain’ seems to be one of the RT callsigns.
Regards
Mark

[AndyMarden]

That is indeed a 5/159th callsign.

[AK01]

10x AFRC coming to Spain/ Greece. 1st thought it was for Air Defender, not sure now.
Should be arriving in the upcoming week?? Zaragoza seems a good option. 1 C17A RCH467 arrived this morning from Whiteman, and another looks like inbound tomorrow RCH642.

https://www.usafe.af.mil/News/Article-D ... 23-exerci/

[Stratofreighter]

[mod edit: this and the following three posts moved here from the original topic]

...perhaps of interest, or perhaps not so of interest...

https://www.stripes.com/branches/air_fo ... 86818.html

Exercise with extra brrrt: US military adds 10 Warthogs for Europe drills

By JENNIFER H. SVAN
STARS AND STRIPES • May 2, 2023

On Tuesday, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa announced the A-10s’ participation in the two-month exercise, which kicked off April 22.

USAFE did not say when the A-10s,
assigned to the 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.,

were due to arrive or how long they will remain in Europe.

[Trabanti]

For Defender (so southern Europe), not Air Defender I thought..

[Herby]

Yes. The AFRC A-10 will not take part in Air Defender.