This is Rapid Pacific 2022

With Rapid Pacific, the German Air Force will demonstrate its operational readiness: It cooperates with partners with shared values all around the world and is also actively involved in the reinforced Baltic Air Policing mission in the context of national and Alliance defense.

On 15 August, the German Air Force will deploy to the Indo-Pacific region with an aggregation comprised of several aircraft, demonstrating its operational readiness: Six Eurofighter, four A400M and three A330 MRTTMulti Role Tanker Transport (Multi-Role Tanker Transport) aircraft are tasked with reaching Singapore in just 24 hours.

With the subsequent deployment to Australia and the participation in two international exercises, the German Air Force will be testing its interoperability with allies inside and outside NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization throughout the Indo-Pacific region. During the Pitch Black air combat exercise, the Eurofighter aircraft will practice air attacks and defense in larger formations with international partners both in the air-to-air and air-to-ground roles. During the Kakadu multinational maritime combat exercise, the partners will additionally protect ships from the air. About 250 German Air Force soldiers will participate in the exercise.

Before redeploying to Germany, the units involved will practice together with the Singapore Air Force, and visit allies in Japan and South Korea. The two short visits to Japan and South Korea by parts of the German fleet will also serve to deepen relations with these partners with whom Germany shares common values.

A first step toward a stronger German military presence in the Indo-Pacific region was the detachment of the Frigate Bayern. Between August 2021 and February 2022, the German Navy vessel was sailing in the maritime area between the Horn of Africa, Australia, and Japan.

With Rapid Pacific and the participation of the German Air Force in the two exercises, the Bundeswehr is once again demonstrating its Alliance capability in the Indo-Pacific region and its operational readiness since the German Air Force cooperates with partners with shared values all around the world and is also actively involved in the reinforced Baltic Air Policing mission in the context of national and Alliance defense.