Image source: topwar.ru
From June 6 to June 10, the largest exercises in the history of NATO's existence to test air and missile defense systems are taking place in Europe. Military training camps codenamed Ramstein Legacy 22 take place near the Russian borders on the territory of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. In total, 17 allies and partners of the alliance, including Finland and Sweden, are taking part in them. Given the location and objectives of the training mission, the British Times reported that NATO is conducting the largest air defense exercises "on Putin's doorstep."
During the exercises, it is planned to work out the actions of the allies to control the airspace by special units of the joint air forces of the Alliance IAMD. In total, 50 combat aircraft will be involved in military training, some of which will simulate flights of "enemy" aircraft, as well as 3,000 military personnel. To repel the enemy's training attacks, 17 ground-based air defense installations and electronic warfare systems will be involved.
The reason and purpose of the large-scale exercises, as stated in NATO, was Russia conducting a special operation in Ukraine and working out the actions of the member countries of the bloc and allies in case of escalation of the conflict to Europe. According to the Times, NATO fears that Moscow may decide to launch missile strikes against European countries.
— General Jeff Harrigan, Commander of the Allied and US Air Forces in Europe and Africa, comments on the situation.
Moreover, according to NATO, the Europeans fear not only targeted strikes by the Russian Armed Forces on their territory, but also violations of airspace by Russian UAVs and missiles "due to miscalculations, loss of leadership or control." It is worth clarifying that in this regard, the Europeans should be more afraid of their main ally in the confrontation with the "insidious" Russia — Ukraine. Suffice it to recall the incident with the Ukrainian Soviet-made Tu—141 Strizh drone, which in March freely crossed the airspace controlled by NATO air defenses and fell directly on Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, which is part of the North Atlantic Alliance.