European Air Forces Unite for Landmark Pacific Skies 24 Deployment

Berlin, Germany: In an unprecedented move, air forces from Germany, France, and Spain are set to embark on a groundbreaking exercise named Pacific Skies 24. This initiative will see a variety of combat aircraft journey to the Asia-Pacific region in a multi-legged mission aimed at enhancing cooperation with other air arms. This exercise underscores the ongoing strategic pivot to Asia, driven by China’s assertive military stance, and highlights Europe's NATO allies' commitment to global security.  

Assets participating in Pacific Skies 24 are scheduled to depart Europe tomorrow, heading first across the Atlantic to the United States to participate in Exercise Arctic Defender in Alaska. This initial leg will involve a significant contingent of aircraft, including:  

• Eight German Eurofighters  
• Four Spanish Eurofighters  
• Four French Rafale fighters  
• 12 German Tornado strike aircraft  
• Nine A400M transports (four German, three French, two Spanish)  
• One Spanish A330 transport  
• Four German H145M helicopters  

This formidable array of aircraft will be supported by approximately 1,800 military personnel from the three nations. Additionally, aerial refuelling support will be provided by four A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transports (MRTT) from the Multinational MRTT Unit (MMU) based in Cologne, Germany, and three more A330 MRTTs from France.  

Luftwaffe’s final international deployment for its Tornados  

For the German Luftwaffe, this exercise marks the final international deployment of its Tornado aircraft before they are replaced by F-35As in the nuclear strike role and by specially equipped Eurofighters in the electronic warfare role.

The Tornados have already arrived in Alaska to participate in low-level training ahead of Arctic Defender, an air-to-air combat exercise featuring live-firing alongside undisclosed U.S. military fifth-generation fighters.

Following Arctic Defender, the Pacific Skies 24 deployment will continue westward to Japan for Exercise Nippon Skies, where German Eurofighters will train in Japanese airspace for the first time. The German contingent will then split, with some assets heading to Hawaii for the RIMPAC exercise, while the remaining forces proceed to Australia to participate in Exercise Pitch Black. This large-scale manoeuvre will involve aircraft from 20 countries, including the French and Spanish Air Forces.  

The final leg of Pacific Skies 24 will see the participants head to India for the inaugural Tarang Shakti 1 exercise, featuring the Indian Air Force and the U.K. Royal Air Force. This exercise will provide Spanish fighter pilots with their first opportunity to engage in dissimilar air combat training with Russian-designed Su-30 Flanker fighters.  

Strategic significance and operational synergies  

By the conclusion of Pacific Skies 24 on August 15, the European air forces will have traversed approximately 36,000 miles, training in diverse environments ranging from icy terrains to tropical climates. The deployment will include stopovers in Canada, New Zealand, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates, among other countries. Separately, a French contingent will participate in the Griffith Strike, travelling to Australia via the UAE and Singapore, accompanied by a U.K. Royal Air Force detachment.

Pacific Skies 24 emphasizes rapid movement and logistical efficiency, with the German and Spanish contingents departing from Cologne to enhance operational synergies. Maintenance and logistical support will be streamlined, with most required spares and supplies carried onboard the participating aircraft. The French component will employ a specially equipped A330 MRTT as a communications relay platform to maintain contact with the French headquarters in Lyon via satellite link.  

The overarching goal of Pacific Skies 24 is to sharpen the operational skills of the European air forces while strengthening their cooperation with Indo-Pacific allies. "By participating in Pacific Skies 24, we as Europeans are showing presence in a part of the world that is of great importance to all of us," stated Luftwaffe Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz.