Thoughts about Air Defender

[Canberra TT.18]

Just some small talk about Air Defender 2023.

I'm amazed and surprised about the scale the Air National Guard puts in to this exercise.
I count already fighter and transport aircraft deployed from 20 different ANG units next to transporters and tankers from another 5-10 ANG-units in support.
Absolutely impressive!

But also an question what is the exact purpose? I can't see it happening the ANG go to war alone, but only as part of the USAF in total. So why demonstrate the ANG can deploy on it's own?
I'm just wondering .
And happy to see (hopefully) many different aircraft of so many units from next week on.

[Ragnar]

Show of power. And training of international comao on a lange scale.
If the ANG could do this by itself the entire USAF could do much more.

[Flyboy]

This exercise is the 2023 event of the Magday exercises. Next to the USAF which has its regular deployments, the ANG is the only organisation that can generate this much aircraft.
The Magday exercises and its function are widely published. Google is your friend.

[Daniel Ravenswaay]

If WW3 would happen to break out, it can be advantageous when many air units just happen to be close to the hotspot... Of course, WW3 would just be a visible manifestation of the 5th Gen information warfare that's been going on for quite some time.

[SquAdmin]

This exercise is the 2023 event of the Magday exercises. Next to the USAF which has its regular deployments, the ANG is the only organisation that can generate this much aircraft.
The Magday exercises and its function are widely published. Google is your friend.

2023 is the year in which MAGDAYs would reach IOC status and in 2026 it should be fully operational. Considering the size of this year's exercise, it is interesting to speculate on what we can expect during the next three years...

[Erik_7Xi]

I'm busy packing my backs and I'll travel from the other side of the world to go see me some awesome aircraft. Hope to see you all in Northern Germany in the second week of Air Defender!