Germany is preparing to host NATO’s largest-ever air force deployment exercise, Air Defender, a show of force designed to impress both allies and potential adversaries such as Russia, The Guardian reports.

In the exercise, which begins next week, 10,000 participants and 250 aircraft from 25 countries will respond to a simulated attack on a NATO member state.

The United States is sending 2,000 US Air National Guard troops and about 100 aircraft to participate in the exercise from June 12 to 23, AP reports.

“Everyone will be taking notes, including Mr. Putin”

“This, without a doubt, will demonstrate the agility and speed of our allied NATO forces. I would be very surprised if there is any world leader who does not take into account what he sees in terms of the spirit of this alliance, which means the strength of this alliance. And that includes Mr. Putin, said Amy Gutmann, the US ambassador to Germany.

The head of Germany’s air service, Ingo Herharz, said most of the roughly 2,000 flights would be over the North and Baltic seas and that everything possible was being done to minimize disruption to civil aviation, Reuters reported.

He hoped there would be no flight cancellations and that any delays would be limited to a few minutes. “If we want to show that we are ready to defend this country and this alliance, we have to accept it. You don’t get security for free,” Gerhartz said.

Almost 10,000 servicemen will take part in the exercises, which, among other things, will prepare ways to quickly transfer air reinforcements to Germany in the event of a conflict with Russia.

“We demonstrate that NATO territory is a red line”

Due to its location in the heart of Europe, Germany would provide an important logistical and training center for NATO in such a scenario. Even in peacetime, more than 35,000 American soldiers live here.

The exercise will focus on air bases in Germany, but will also involve sites in the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. The United States will send about 100 aircraft to Europe, most of which will be provided by the Air National Guard.

Gerhartz said he did not expect increased Russian military activity in response to the drills because they were designed to be defensive.

“We are demonstrating that NATO territory is a red line and that we are ready to defend every inch of this territory, but we will not fly to Kaliningrad,” he said.