Following the Rapid Pacific deployment two years ago, the German Air Force are projecting a force to the Indo Pacific region again. Once in the region the German four A400Ms, eight Eurofighters, 12 Tornados, four A330 MRTT aircraft and four light utility helicopters will be training with Allied and Partner air forces and navies in a combined joint setting. Among others, activities will include low-level flying, defensive and offensive counter air operations and air-to-air refueling.
In mid-June, German Tornado fighter aircraft took off from German to deploy to Alaska for low-level flying training. The first leg of the Pacific Skies 24 series of deployed exercises. Bundeswehr photo by Sherifa Kaestner.
Eight German Eurofighters will join the 12 Tornados, 4 A400Ms and four A330 MRTT during the largest deployment in the history of the German Air Force. Bundeswehr archive photo by Christian Timmig.
German A400M tail sporting the Pacific Skies 2024 logo - the transport workhorse is already contributing to the Pacific Skies preparation transporting cargo and personnel. Photo courtesy Bundewehr.
The German Tornado fleet sitting in an apron at Anchorage Alaska during the deployment. Challenging low-level flying drills are the first exercise of Pacific Skies 2024. Bundeswehr photo by Sherifa Kaestner.
Pacific Skies 24 is an air force training series and consists of five training sections at five different locations around the world. Twelve German Tornado fighter jets started with a low-level flying training in Alaska from June 17 to 29. This will be the last international appearance of the Tornado fleet before being decommissioned.
In July, German jets will operate alongside A330 and A400M air-to-air refueling aircraft and several Allies and lead training of air warfare operations to NATO standards during U.S. exercise Arctic Defender in Alaska. Moving on to Japan, the German Eurofighter fleet will split up and one group will participate in combined training flights with the Japan Air Self-Defence Force during exercise Nippon Skies. For the first time, German fighter jets will be training in Japanese airspace, before they redeploy to Hawaii to support naval warfare drills during exercise Rimpac with the German Navy.
The other group will take part in the multinational air combat exercise Pitch Black in Australia from July 22 to August 1 before deploying to India to fly in Indian Air Force led exercise Tarang Shakti Phase 1
Pacific Skies 24 was designed due to the special importance of security cooperation with Germany's partners in the Indo-Pacific region. Combined training of Allies and Partners mutually strengthens operational capability
“With Pacific Skies 24, we are showing our face in a part of the world that is of great importance to us. We will deploy to the Indo-Pacific region, while at the same time the German Air Force is conducting NATO Air Policing at home and in the Baltic region, demonstrating our commitment to rules-based international order and stability,” said Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, Chief of Staff of the German Air Force. According to him deploying over more than 13,000 kilometres to participate in five exercises with our Partners is an enormous logistical achievement. General Gerhartz added that Germany leads the first exercise, Arctic Defender in Alaska, a classic NATO Article 5 exercise, and benefits from the other exercises that allow an international exchange of best practices and skill sets.