German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets fly alongside an aircraft simulating aerial interceptions during a media day, illustrating how NATO Air Policing safeguards the Allies' airspace in the northern and northeastern region of the Alliance, July 4, 2023. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw 

German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets fly during a media day, illustrating how NATO Air Policing safeguards the Allies' airspace in the northern and northeastern region of the Alliance, July 4, 2023. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw 

A German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet flies during a media day, illustrating how NATO Air Policing safeguards the Allies' airspace in the northern and northeastern region of the Alliance, July 4, 2023. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw 

A F-16 fighter jet takes off during a media day of NATO's "Air Defender 23" military exercise at Spangdahlem U.S. Air Base near the German-Belgian border in Spangdahlem, Germany June 14, 2023. REUTERS/Jana Rodenbusch 

A F-16 fighter jet takes off during a media day of NATO's "Air Defender 23" military exercise at Spangdahlem U.S. Air Base near the German-Belgian border in Spangdahlem, Germany June 14, 2023. REUTERS/Jana Rodenbusch 

A F-35 fighter jet taxis during a media day of NATO's "Air Defender 23" military exercise at Spangdahlem U.S. Air Base near the German-Belgian border in Spangdahlem, Germany June 14, 2023. REUTERS/Jana Rodenbusch 

F-35 fighter jets taxi during a media day of NATO's "Air Defender 23" military exercise at Spangdahlem U.S. Air Base near the German-Belgian border in Spangdahlem, Germany June 14, 2023. REUTERS/Jana Rodenbusch 

A F-35 fighter jet flies during a media day of NATO's "Air Defender 23" military exercise at Spangdahlem U.S. Air Base near the German-Belgian border in Spangdahlem, Germany June 14, 2023. REUTERS/Jana Rodenbusch 

A F-35 fighter jet stands in a hangar during a media day of NATO's "Air Defender 23" military exercise at Spangdahlem U.S. Air Base near the German-Belgian border in Spangdahlem, Germany June 14, 2023. REUTERS/Jana Rodenbusch 

A member of military personnel takes a picture of a F-35 fighter jet during a media day of NATO's "Air Defender 23" military exercise at Spangdahlem U.S. Air Base near the German-Belgian border in Spangdahlem, Germany June 14, 2023. REUTERS/Jana Rodenbusch 

A F-35 fighter jet stands in a hangar during a media day of NATO's "Air Defender 23" military exercise at Spangdahlem U.S. Air Base near the German-Belgian border in Spangdahlem, Germany June 14, 2023. REUTERS/Jana Rodenbusch 

A F-35 fighter jet stands in a hangar during a media day of NATO's "Air Defender 23" military exercise at Spangdahlem U.S. Air Base near the German-Belgian border in Spangdahlem, Germany June 14, 2023. REUTERS/Jana Rodenbusch 

Military personnel pose for a picture in front of a F-35 fighter jet during a media day of NATO's "Air Defender 23" military exercise at Spangdahlem U.S. Air Base near the German-Belgian border in Spangdahlem, Germany June 14, 2023. REUTERS/Jana Rodenbusch 

A F-35 fighter jet stands in a hangar during a media day of NATO's "Air Defender 23" military exercise at Spangdahlem U.S. Air Base near the German-Belgian border in Spangdahlem, Germany June 14, 2023. REUTERS/Jana Rodenbusch 

A F-35 fighter jet stands in a hangar during a media day of NATO's "Air Defender 23" military exercise at Spangdahlem U.S. Air Base near the German-Belgian border in Spangdahlem, Germany June 14, 2023. REUTERS/Jana Rodenbusch 

The tail wing of a german Tornado painted in the colors of the German flag by the Tactical Air Force Squadron 51 'Immelmann' and reading "Air Defender 2023", for the occasion of the Air Defender Exercise 2023, is seen at the military airport of Jagel, northern Germany, on June 9, 2023. AXEL HEIMKEN/Pool via REUTERS 

Inspector of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz speaks to the members of the media on the sidelines of a press conference about the Air Defender 23, the largest multinational deployment exercise of air forces in the history of NATO in Berlin, Germany June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse 

Inspector of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz speaks to the members of the media on the sidelines of a press conference about the Air Defender 23, the largest multinational deployment exercise of air forces in the history of NATO in Berlin, Germany June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse 

Inspector of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz speaks to the members of the media on the sidelines of a press conference about the Air Defender 23, the largest multinational deployment exercise of air forces in the history of NATO in Berlin, Germany June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse 

Inspector of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz and U.S. Air National Guard Director, Lieutenant General Michael A. Loh shake hands on the sidelines of a press conference about the Air Defender 23, the largest multinational deployment exercise of air forces in the history of NATO in Berlin, Germany June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse 

Inspector of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz and U.S. Air National Guard Director, Lieutenant General Michael A. Loh pose for a picture on the sidelines of a press conference about the Air Defender 23, the largest multinational deployment exercise of air forces in the history of NATO in Berlin, Germany June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse 

Inspector of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz attends a press conference about the Air Defender 23, the largest multinational deployment exercise of air forces in the history of NATO in Berlin, Germany June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse 

United States Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann, Inspector of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz and U.S. Air National Guard Director, Lieutenant General Michael A. Loh attend a press conference about the Air Defender 23, the largest multinational deployment exercise of air forces in the history of NATO in Berlin, Germany June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse 

Inspector of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz attends a press conference about the Air Defender 23, the largest multinational deployment exercise of air forces in the history of NATO in Berlin, Germany June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse 

Inspector of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz attends a press conference about the Air Defender 23, the largest multinational deployment exercise of air forces in the history of NATO in Berlin, Germany June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse 

United States Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann, Inspector of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz and U.S. Air National Guard Director, Lieutenant General Michael A. Loh hold a press conference about the Air Defender 23, the largest multinational deployment exercise of air forces in the history of NATO in Berlin, Germany June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse 

United States Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann shakes hands with Inspector of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz on the sidelines of a press conference about the Air Defender 23, the largest multinational deployment exercise of air forces in the history of NATO, in Berlin, Germany June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse 

United States Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann, Inspector of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz and U.S. Air National Guard Director, Lieutenant General Michael A. Loh talk on the sidelines of a press conference about the Air Defender 23, the largest multinational deployment exercise of air forces in the history of NATO, in Berlin, Germany June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse 

United States Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann, Inspector of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz and U.S. Air National Guard Director, Lieutenant General Michael A. Loh talk on the sidelines of a press conference about the Air Defender 23, the largest multinational deployment exercise of air forces in the history of NATO, in Berlin, Germany June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse 

United States Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann, Inspector of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz and U.S. Air National Guard Director, Lieutenant General Michael A. Loh talk on the sidelines of a press conference about the Air Defender 23, the largest multinational deployment exercise of air forces in the history of NATO, in Berlin, Germany June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse 

United States Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann, Inspector of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz and U.S. Air National Guard Director, Lieutenant General Michael A. Loh arrive to hold a press conference about the Air Defender 23, the largest multinational deployment exercise of air forces in the history of NATO in Berlin, Germany June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse 

United States Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann, Inspector of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz and U.S. Air National Guard Lieutenant General Michael A. Loh arrive to hold a press conference about the Air Defender 23, the largest multinational deployment exercise of air forces in the history of NATO in Berlin, Germany June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse 

United States Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann, Inspector of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz and U.S. Air National Guard Lieutenant General Michael A. Loh hold a press conference about the Air Defender 23, the largest multinational deployment exercise of air forces in the history of NATO in Berlin, Germany June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse 

German Air Force Eurofighter jet escorts the plane carrying Britain’s King Charles after departure from Berlin, Germany, March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Phil Noble 

German Air Force Eurofighter jet escorts the plane carrying Britain’s King Charles after departure from Berlin, Germany, March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Phil Noble 

German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon jet escorts the plane carrying Britain’s King Charles as it arrives in Berlin Brandenburg Airport 'Willy Brandt' in Berlin, Germany, March 29, 2023. REUTERS/Phil Noble 

German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon jet escorts the plane carrying Britain’s King Charles as it arrives in Berlin Brandenburg Airport 'Willy Brandt' in Berlin, Germany, March 29, 2023. REUTERS/Phil Noble 

German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon jet escorts the plane carrying Britain’s King Charles as it arrives in Berlin Brandenburg Airport 'Willy Brandt' in Berlin, Germany, March 29, 2023. REUTERS/Phil Noble 

German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon jet escorts the plane carrying Britain’s King Charles as it arrives in Berlin Brandenburg Airport 'Willy Brandt' in Berlin, Germany, March 29, 2023. REUTERS/Phil Noble 

German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon jet escorts the plane carrying Britain’s King Charles as it arrives in Berlin Brandenburg Airport 'Willy Brandt' in Berlin, Germany, March 29, 2023. REUTERS/Phil Noble 

German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon jet escorts the plane carrying Britain’s King Charles as it arrives in Berlin Brandenburg Airport 'Willy Brandt' in Berlin, Germany, March 29, 2023. REUTERS/Phil Noble 

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg shakes hands with German Air Force lieutenant general Ingo Gerhartz on the official opening day of a new multinational air tanker fleet terminal in Eindhoven, Netherlands March 23, 2023. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw 

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz boards a German Air Force helicopter after a closed German cabinet meeting at the government's guest house in Schloss Meseberg, near Gransee, Germany, March 6, 2023. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch 

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz boards a German Air Force helicopter after a closed German cabinet meeting at the government's guest house in Schloss Meseberg, near Gransee, Germany, March 6, 2023. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch 

German Air Force helicopter with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on board, leaves after a closed German cabinet meeting at the government's guest house in Schloss Meseberg, near Gransee, Germany, March 6, 2023. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch 

Indian Air Force soldiers stand during the ceremonial reception for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the forecourt of India's Rashtrapati Bhavan Presidential Palace in New Delhi, India, February 25, 2023. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi 

Indian Air Force soldiers stand during the ceremonial reception for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the forecourt of India's Rashtrapati Bhavan Presidential Palace in New Delhi, India, February 25, 2023. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi 

A German Air Force soldier prepares a vehicle before the convoy leaves, as the mobile defence surface-to-air missile systems, Patriots, are transported to Poland from Gnoien, Germany, January 23, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse 

German Air Force soldiers walk near the convoy vehicles, as the mobile defence surface-to-air missile systems, Patriots, are transported to Poland from Gnoien, Germany, January 23, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse 

German Air Force soldiers prepare to leave as the mobile defence surface-to-air missile systems, Patriots, are transported to Poland from Gnoien, Germany, January 23, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse 

A view of a SAM-Grp 24 patch on a soldier's jacket as German Air Force soldiers prepare the mobile defence surface-to-air missile systems, Patriots, for transport to Poland from Gnoien, Germany January 23, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse 

A view of a NATO badge on a soldier's jacket as German Air Force soldiers prepare the mobile defence surface-to-air missile systems, Patriots, for transport to Poland from Gnoien, Germany January 23, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse 

German Air Force Colonel Joerg Sievers holds a news statement as German Air Force soldiers prepare the mobile defence surface-to-air missile systems, Patriots, for transport to Poland from Gnoien, Germany January 23, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse 

German Air Force Colonel Joerg Sievers holds a news statement as German Air Force soldiers prepare the mobile defence surface-to-air missile systems, Patriots, for transport to Poland from Gnoien, Germany January 23, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse 

A flag of Ukraine is seen on the day of a meeting of German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov, U.S. counterpart, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Yevhen Moisiuk, to discuss how to help Ukraine defend itself, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, January 20, 2023. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay 

A member of the CBRN unit helps decontaminates a German soldier, during the Baltic Tiger 2022 binational military exercise, which is a contribution at NATO's eastern flank, at the harbour in Tallinn, Estonia, October 24, 2022. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner 

German soldiers stand on a boat, during the Baltic Tiger 2022 binational military exercise, which is a contribution at NATO's eastern flank, at the harbour in Tallinn, Estonia, October 24, 2022. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner 

A member of the CBRN Unit drives a vehicle, during the Baltic Tiger 2022 binational military exercise, which is a contribution at NATO's eastern flank, at the harbour in Tallinn, Estonia, October 24, 2022. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner 

A view of the logo of Baltic Tiger on a jacket, during the Baltic Tiger 2022 binational military exercise, which is a contribution at NATO's eastern flank, at the harbour in Tallinn, Estonia, October 24, 2022. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner 

A German soldier brushes his shoe as he decontaminates himself, during the Baltic Tiger 2022 binational military exercise, which is a contribution at NATO's eastern flank, at the harbour in Tallinn, Estonia, October 24, 2022. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner