In the framework of a new NATO exercise, the German Air Force is conducting a long-range deployment in the Indo-Pacific region, marking the first-ever presence of Eurofighter and Tornado fighter jets in Japan. This showcases the strategic projection capabilities of the German Armed Forces, akin to events in 2022 and the recent deployment of the Baden-Württemberg (F222), the lead ship of Germany’s new F125 missile frigate class, alongside the logistics support vessel “Frankfurt am Main.”
Named “Pacific Skies 2024,” the German Armed Forces will operate with various regional partners in the Indo-Pacific, marking the first participation of Luftwaffe assets and personnel with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force in combined exercises. The exercise will also involve the Spanish and French Air and Space Forces. The German deployment includes four A400M transport aircraft, eight Eurofighters, twelve Tornados, four A330 MRTT refueling aircraft, and four light utility helicopters.
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force will contribute four F-15J fighters, accompanied by four Eurofighters and two A400M transport aircraft from the Spanish Air Force, engaging in low-altitude flights, anti-aircraft operations, defensive and offensive maneuvers, and aerial refueling with other Alliance countries.
The German Eurofighter fleet will split, with one group participating in combined training flights with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force during Exercise Nippon Skies. This marks the first time German Air Force fighters will participate in naval combat exercises in Japanese airspace. Next month, German fighters are expected to operate alongside A330 and A400M refueling aircraft and other nations in Alaska.
“With Pacific Skies 24, we are demonstrating our presence in a region of great importance to us. We are deploying in the Indo-Pacific while simultaneously conducting NATO Air Surveillance 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.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense emphasized that these combined maneuvers are not directed against any specific country or region. However, conducted under the theme of a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” they apparently reflect Tokyo’s intention to use them as a deterrent against an increasingly assertive China, which has generated tensions with other regional countries like the Philippines.
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