The squadron is taking part in Desert Air 2023 (DeAi23) a multinational exercise which will run until November 3, 2023. In addition to the hosts, the Royal Jordan Air Force (RJAF), and the US Air Force (USAF) are also taking part.
The German element consists of six Eurofighter aircraft from the Tactical Air Force Squadron 73 “Steinhoff” from Laage and these are supported by a total of 80 soldiers at Al-Azrak Air Base.
A long time in the planning, the exercise will see training flights take place several times a day with the partners flying air-to-air and air-to-ground operations, as well as air refuelling in training areas over Jordan.
In addition to the cooperation with the NATO partner USA, the focus is on the first-ever exercise of German Eurofighters with the Royal Jordan Air Force (RJAF) in Jordan. This underlines that Jordan is an important strategic partner in the Middle East.
As part of the coalition of international forces in the ongoing fight against the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS “Islamic State”), the Bundeswehr is participating in the Counter Daesh (CD) and Capacity Building Iraq (CBI) missions and Jordan serves as a hub in the operational area.
For these missions, the Air Force provides capabilities such as air surveillance and operational support to the multinational coalition through tanker aircraft from Al-Azrak Air Base.
