Blue Wing Exercise

Four IDF F-16's lining up in Nörvenich Air Base

From August 17 to 23, 2020, the skies over West Germany hosted Exercise BLUE WING, a groundbreaking joint military exercise between the Israeli Air Force (IAF) and the German Luftwaffe at Nörvenich Air Base. This marked the first-ever deployment of Israeli fighter jets on German soil, marking a powerful moment of military cooperation, remembrance, and strategic alignment.

Mission Context


A Historic First: Israeli Jets in Germany


BLUE WING 2020 was a milestone in more ways than one. It marked the first time Israeli F-16I “Sufa” fighter aircraft operated from a German air base and flew side by side with Luftwaffe Eurofighter Typhoons. The exercise brought together a combined force of:
  • 6 Israeli F-16I “Sufa” jets
  • 2 Israeli Boeing 707 refueling and support aircraft
  • 6 German Eurofighter Typhoons
  • 1 Airbus A400M transport aircraft
  • Around 180 Israeli personnel (pilots, technicians, support teams)
  • Over 200 German military personnel
This bilateral deployment represented one of the most significant operational collaborations between the two countries since the normalization of relations in 1965.


One of the two KC707 present for the exercise

Training for Modern Threats



BLUE WING 2020 focused on air-to-air combat training, aerial refueling, close air support (CAS), and joint operational tactics in NATO-standard environments. Missions were carried out both in simulated hostile territory and under challenging weather conditions to test pilot readiness and equipment interoperability.
Key operational scenarios included:
  • Simulated dogfights (beyond visual range and close-range)
  • Joint escort missions for high-value aircraft
  • Aerial refueling operations using Israeli KC-707 tankers
  • Low-altitude flight coordination and tactical maneuvers
Flights were conducted over military airspace in western Germany and involved advanced radar tracking and joint communication protocols.

One of the two G550 Nachsho present for the exercise

Armament and Systems


While BLUE WING was a non-live-fire exercise, all aircraft were fully outfitted with standard operational loadouts for training purposes. This included:

  • Simulated air-to-air missiles (AIM-120 AMRAAM, Python-5, IRIS-T)

  • Laser-guided bomb simulators (JDAM, Spice)

  • Electronic warfare pods and radar jammers

  • Advanced secure communication and command links

The Israeli and German air forces worked closely to ensure full system compatibility, using NATO-compatible codes and mission planning software.








F-16D Barak taxiing to the runway

More Than Just Training: A Symbol of Reconciliation


Beyond its tactical aims, BLUE WING carried immense symbolic weight. The exercise included a joint memorial ceremony at Dachau Concentration Camp and a flyover honoring Holocaust victims and German soldiers fallen in World War II.

Israeli Air Force Commander, Major General Amikam Norkin, described the moment as “a bridge between past and future,” while Luftwaffe Chief Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz stated, “It is not self-evident that Israeli jets fly over German soil. It is a sign of deep trust and responsibility.”






F-16Con the arrival

Strategic Purpose and Future Cooperation


The official goals of the exercise were threefold:

  1. Strengthen military ties and interoperability between the Israeli and German air forces

  2. Improve joint readiness for modern, high-tech air combat scenarios

  3. Demonstrate political and historical solidarity through visible military collaboration

The exercise also served as an opportunity to test rapid deployment logistics, including aircraft transport, maintenance coordination, and secure communications — all within a NATO framework.

According to both defense ministries, BLUE WING will now become a recurring bilateral exercise, alternating between Germany and Israel in future editions.






IDF C-130 present for the support

Conclusion


BLUE WING 2020 was more than an air force drill — it was a statement of shared values, operational excellence, and historical reconciliation. Against the backdrop of a turbulent century, Israeli and German pilots soared together over the same skies where history once divided them — now united in common purpose.






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