62d AW provides global airlift during U.S. Army, USAFE-AFAFRICA led DEFENDER 23

U.S Air Force Senior Airman Abby Beachnau, loadmaster with the 7th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, gives a five-minute warning to Spanish paratroopers with the Grupo De Artilleria during DEFENDER 23 over Spain, May 10, 2023. DEFENDER 23 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa-led exercise, supported by U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa, focused on the strategic deployment of continental United States-based forces and interoperability with Allies and partners. Taking place from April 22 to June 23, DEFENDER 23 demonstrates the U.S. Air Force’s ability to aggregate U.S.-based combat power quickly in Europe; increase lethality of the NATO Alliance through the U.S. Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment; build unit readiness in a complex joint, multi-national environment; and leverage host nation capabilities to increase USAFE-AFAFRICA’s operational reach. DEFENDER 23 includes more than 7,800 U.S. and 15,000 multi-national service members from various Allied and partner nations. (U.S Air Force photo by Senior Airman Callie Norton)

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62d AW provides global airlift during U.S. Army, USAFE-AFAFRICA led DEFENDER 23

Spanish paratroopers with the Grupo De Artilleria sit on a C-17 Globemaster III assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, during DEFENDER 23 at Base Aerea De Zaragoza, Spain, May 10, 2023. DEFENDER 23 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa-led exercise, supported by U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa, focused on the strategic deployment of continental United States-based forces and interoperability with Allies and partners. Taking place from April 22 to June 23, DEFENDER 23 demonstrates the U.S. Air Force’s ability to aggregate U.S.-based combat power quickly in Europe; increase lethality of the NATO Alliance through the U.S. Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment; build unit readiness in a complex joint, multi-national environment; and leverage host nation capabilities to increase USAFE-AFAFRICA’s operational reach. DEFENDER 23 includes more than 7,800 U.S. and 15,000 multi-national service members from various Allied and partner nations. (U.S Air Force photo by Senior Airman Callie Norton)

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62d AW provides global airlift during U.S. Army, USAFE-AFAFRICA led DEFENDER 23

U.S Air Force Master Sgt. Kent Koerner, loadmaster with the 7th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, views a C-17 Globemaster III assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, from the ramp of a C-17 during DEFENDER 23 at Base Aerea De Zaragoza, Spain, May 10, 2023. DEFENDER 23 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa-led exercise, supported by U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa, focused on the strategic deployment of continental United States-based forces and interoperability with Allies and partners. Taking place from April 22 to June 23, DEFENDER 23 demonstrates the U.S. Air Force’s ability to aggregate U.S.-based combat power quickly in Europe; increase lethality of the NATO Alliance through the U.S. Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment; build unit readiness in a complex joint, multi-national environment; and leverage host nation capabilities to increase USAFE-AFAFRICA’s operational reach. DEFENDER 23 includes more than 7,800 U.S. and 15,000 multi-national service members from various Allied and partner nations. (U.S Air Force photo by Senior Airman Callie Norton)

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62d AW provides global airlift during U.S. Army, USAFE-AFAFRICA led DEFENDER 23

U.S. Air Force Capt. Heath Reichenbach, pilot with the 7th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, flies a C-17 Globemaster III assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, during DEFENDER 23 over Spain, May 10, 2023. DEFENDER 23 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa-led exercise, supported by U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa, focused on the strategic deployment of continental United States-based forces and interoperability with Allies and partners. Taking place from April 22 to June 23, DEFENDER 23 demonstrates the U.S. Air Force’s ability to aggregate U.S.-based combat power quickly in Europe; increase lethality of the NATO Alliance through the U.S. Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment; build unit readiness in a complex joint, multi-national environment; and leverage host nation capabilities to increase USAFE-AFAFRICA’s operational reach. DEFENDER 23 includes more than 7,800 U.S. and 15,000 multi-national service members from various Allied and partner nations. (U.S Air Force photo by Senior Airman Callie Norton)

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62d AW provides global airlift during U.S. Army, USAFE-AFAFRICA led DEFENDER 23

U.S Air Force Master Sgt. Kent Koerner, loadmaster with the 7th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, looks out the troop door window on a C-17 Globemaster III assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, during DEFENDER 23 at Base Aerea De Zaragoza, Spain, May 10, 2023. DEFENDER 23 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa-led exercise, supported by U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa, focused on the strategic deployment of continental United States-based forces and interoperability with Allies and partners. Taking place from April 22 to June 23, DEFENDER 23 demonstrates the U.S. Air Force’s ability to aggregate U.S.-based combat power quickly in Europe; increase lethality of the NATO Alliance through the U.S. Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment; build unit readiness in a complex joint, multi-national environment; and leverage host nation capabilities to increase USAFE-AFAFRICA’s operational reach. DEFENDER 23 includes more than 7,800 U.S. and 15,000 multi-national service members from various Allied and partner nations. (U.S Air Force photo by Senior Airman Callie Norton)

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62d AW provides global airlift during U.S. Army, USAFE-AFAFRICA led DEFENDER 23

U.S Air Force Senior Airman Abby Beachnau, loadmaster with the 7th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, gives a pre-flight safety brief to Spanish paratroopers with the Grupo De Artilleria on a C-17 Globemaster III assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, during DEFENDER 23 at Base Aerea De Zaragoza, Spain, May 10, 2023. DEFENDER 23 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa-led exercise, supported by U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa, focused on the strategic deployment of continental United States-based forces and interoperability with Allies and partners. Taking place from April 22 to June 23, DEFENDER 23 demonstrates the U.S. Air Force’s ability to aggregate U.S.-based combat power quickly in Europe; increase lethality of the NATO Alliance through the U.S. Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment; build unit readiness in a complex joint, multi-national environment; and leverage host nation capabilities to increase USAFE-AFAFRICA’s operational reach. DEFENDER 23 includes more than 7,800 U.S. and 15,000 multi-national service members from various Allied and partner nations. (U.S Air Force photo by Senior Airman Callie Norton)

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62d AW provides global airlift during U.S. Army, USAFE-AFAFRICA led DEFENDER 23

A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, prepares for takeoff during DEFENDER 23 at Base Aerea De Zaragoza, Spain, May 10, 2023. DEFENDER 23 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa-led exercise, supported by U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa, focused on the strategic deployment of continental United States-based forces and interoperability with Allies and partners. Taking place from April 22 to June 23, DEFENDER 23 demonstrates the U.S. Air Force’s ability to aggregate U.S.-based combat power quickly in Europe; increase lethality of the NATO Alliance through the U.S. Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment; build unit readiness in a complex joint, multi-national environment; and leverage host nation capabilities to increase USAFE-AFAFRICA’s operational reach. DEFENDER 23 includes more than 7,800 U.S. and 15,000 multi-national service members from various Allied and partner nations. (U.S Air Force photo by Senior Airman Callie Norton)

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62d AW provides global airlift during U.S. Army, USAFE-AFAFRICA led DEFENDER 23

Published May 11, 2023
By Senior Airman Callie Norton
62d Airlift Wing Public Affairs

ZARAGOZA, Spain. --

DEFENDER 23 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa-led exercise, supported by U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa, focused on the strategic deployment of continental United States-based forces and interoperability with Allies and partners. Taking place from April 22 to June 23, DEFENDER 23 demonstrates the U.S. Air Force’s ability to aggregate U.S.-based combat power quickly in Europe; increase lethality of the NATO Alliance through the U.S. Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment; build unit readiness in a complex joint, multi-national environment; and leverage host nation capabilities to increase USAFE-AFAFRICA’s operational reach. DEFENDER 23 includes more than 7,800 U.S. and 15,000 multi-national service members from various Allied and partner nations.