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For the first time, the Air Force will relocate combat aircraft to a civilian airport for four days as part of the “Hannover Shield 2023” exercise on November 27th. Then three Eurofighters from the Tactical Air Force Squadron 71 “Richthofen” (TaktLwG 71 “R”) from the Wittmund Air Base in Lower Saxony will be temporarily stationed at the airport in the Lower Saxony state capital. The unarmed jets are scheduled to take off from there twice a day for training flights towards the North Sea.

Vor dem Hintergrund der Erfahrungen des russischen Bombenterrors gegen die ukrainische Zivilbevölkerung sollen die deutschen Kampfjets in die Lage versetzt werden, eine Großstadt vor möglichen Angriffen aus der Luft durch Drohnen oder Marschflugkörper zu schützen. „Wir“, so Generalleutnant Ingo Gerhartz, Inspekteur der Luftwaffe, „wollen unsere Möglichkeiten zum Schutz von Bevölkerungszentren verbessern.“ Die Flugzeuge könnten Gefahren in der Luft frühzeitig erkennen und gegensteuern, und sie ergänzten bodengebundene Abwehrsysteme wie „Patriot“ oder künftig IRIS-T.

A German Eurofighter squad shortly before takeoff. (Photo: Gerd Portugall)

The squadron in Wittmund has been using Hanover Airport as an alternative airfield for several years. “A military aircraft has to define this,” says Brigadier General Frank Gräfe, department head for operations and exercises in the Air Force Command in Berlin, “before every takeoff.” Hanover was chosen because they have already worked well with the airport in recent years. In addition, the runway is long enough for the Eurofighter.

“I hope,” said Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) when presenting the exercise concept, “that the people in and around Hanover will understand this.” At least there should be no alarm starts – and therefore no sonic booms. “For our passengers,” added airport managing director Martin Roll, “there will be no impact on regular flight operations.”

Gerd Portugall

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