Unique Birds Descending at Hanover Airport: The "Hannover Shield" Military Exercise
Hanover - Get ready to witness some unusual avian visitors next Monday. Instead of the usual passenger planes and holiday jets, three Eurofighters will touch down at Langenhagen Airport. This marks a first, as German Armed Forces aircraft rarely take refuge at civilian airports.
For several days, the unarmed fighter jets will engage in an exercise aimed at defending a large city during an emergency. Brace yourself for some noise, but civilians need not worry about flight delays or disruptions.
According to Brigadier General Frank Gräfe, Head of Department at the Berlin Air Force Command, a total of eight take-offs and landings, along with aerial maneuvers, are planned. After the summer's massive joint military exercise, "Air Defender," boasting 10,000 NATO troops from 25 countries and 250 aircraft, the "Hannover Shield" exercise is now in motion.
The Eurofighters hail from Tactical Air Force Wing 71 "Richthofen" in Wittmund. In this scenario, the planes work tirelessly to protect a major city, such as Hanover, from potential aerial threats like drones and cruise missiles. Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, Chief of Staff of the German Air Force, explained: "The Eurofighters serve as guardians in the skies here, ready to detect and counter threats in the air and boost ground-based defense systems like the Patriot air defense missile system."
Their objective: enhancing our population's protection abilities.
Minister President Stephan Weil (SPD) acknowledged the importance of regular military exercise practice, proclaiming, "We can trust in the German Armed Forces during a crisis, and this trust must be tested regularly. I hope that Hanover's inhabitants and nearby residents will understand the necessity of this exercise."
Beyond honing their skills and procedures, "Hannover Shield" will foster a better understanding of civilian cooperation partners and local characteristics. As Gräfe stated, "In an emergency, pilots and airport security personnel must be able to work together smoothly, and this can only be achieved through joint practice sessions."
Hanover was selected as the site for these military drills due to its previous successful collaborations with the Bundeswehr at Langenhagen Airport, which serves as an alternative airfield for the air force squadron.
Gräfe reasoned, "Protection efforts are most effective close to the city, allowing us to detect threats at their earliest stages."
- Unarmed Eurofighters belonging to the German Armed Forces are being deployed at Hanover Airport Langenhagen for an unparalleled emergency defense exercise, involving multiple take-offs, landings, and aerial maneuvers.
- The "Hannover Shield" exercise focuses on the unarmed Eurofighters protecting major cities from potential aerial threats, such as drones or cruise missiles.
- A statement issued by the Hanover Airport bosses, Maik Blötz and Dr. Martin Roll, reassured civilians that the military exercises will not impact regular air traffic.
