The Luftwaffe deployed a small contingent of Eurofighters to Japan between 28 and 30 September for joint drills. The deployment reflects Japan's role as an important partner for Germany in the region. (Bundeswehr/Christian Timmig)
The German Air Force (Luftwaffe) has concluded its deployment of Eurofighters and support aircraft in the Indo-Pacific region. The deployment, titled ‘Rapid Pacific 2022’, potentially sets the stage for future flights into the region by the Luftwaffe.
A Luftwaffe spokesperson told Janes that the detachment returned to Germany on 8 October.
Thirteen Luftwaffe aircraft flew into the region on 16 August. These comprised six Eurofighter Typhoons from the Luftwaffe's 74th Tactical Air Force Wing based in Neuburg an der Donau and three Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) of the Multinational Multi Role Tanker and Transport (MMF) unit. In addition, four Airbus A400M of the Air Transport Wing 62 from Wunstorf also transported personnel and supplies.
“You learn a lot [when] doing things for the first time,” the Luftwaffe spokesperson said. “Logistics, planning, flying procedures … etc, all have been new for us. We [have] prepared [for] this deployment for over one-and-a-half years.”
The spokesperson added that ‘Rapid Pacific 2022’ could serve as a basis for additional deployments to the region. “Next year, the German Army will participate in an exercise in Australia. In 2024 we hope that the [air force] can come back again [to the region]. Maybe together with the navy,” he said.
According to Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, chief of the Luftwaffe, ‘Rapid Pacific 2022' shows that the Luftwaffe is capable of multiple deployments.
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