AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- The 31st Fighter Wing is supporting multiple Air Mobility Forces and Air Force Reserve Command units during Swift Response 23 part of DEFENDER 23 exercise, Aviano Air Base, Italy, May 5-20, 2023.
Swift Response, Immediate Response and Saber Guardian are three linked exercises under DEFENDER 23, a U.S. Army Europe and Africa led exercise. The training is conducted annually and has been very successful in both enhancing interoperability between Allies and regional partners, improving joint operational capability across a variety of mission sets.
“The 31st FW is honored to host our Air Mobility Command and Air Force Reserve Command counterparts during DEFENDER 23 and Swift Response 23, as they train alongside our Allies and partners in support of the U.S. security commitments to NATO,” said Col. Vincent O’Connor, 31st FW vice commander.
The Department of Defense deployed American troops to participate in DEFENDER 23 exercise, which kicked off April 22.
“Approximately 9,000 U.S. troops and about 17,000 troops from 26 allied and partner nations will participate and portions of the exercise will stretch across 10 different European countries," said Sabrina Singh, Pentagon press secretary.
U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa routinely conducts exercises with European Allies and partners in the European theater.
Training alongside multinational Allies and Partners increases capabilities and enhances interoperability, allowing forces to counter military aggression and coercion through shared responsibilities for collective defense.