The German Air Force has been flying low over Aotearoa for the past fortnight, carrying out a major joint exercise with the Royal New Zealand Air Force in one of the largest deployments of its kind to this country.
Three A400M Atlas military transport aircraft – supported by an A330 and A321 – have been training with Kiwi crews from Whenuapai to Woodbourne in an operation designed to test how well the two forces can work together as global tensions continue to escalate.
Exercise Tūhono Rangi, meaning Connecting Skies, has involved parachute jumps, low-level tactical flying, cargo drops with the New Zealand Army, and interoperability drills between German and Kiwi loadmasters, pilots and paratroopers.
Squadron Leader Matt Williams, who leads the RNZAF detachment, said the visit marks a significant strengthening of New Zealand’s relationship with a key NATO partner.
“It allows the Royal New Zealand Air Force to exercise some of its capabilities alongside the German Air Force… helping to enhance interoperability,” he said.
For crews inside the cavernous A400M - capable of carrying more than 100 personnel - the exercise has been about lining up procedures and standard operating practices so both sides can “plug in” quickly if faced with a real-world crisis.
Flying Officer Sascha Weist, a German-born Kiwi paratrooper who jumped from the German aircraft during the exercise, said the cooperation has been seamless.
“Working together with them is very easy… it’s been a very good experience,” he said.
“In case we ever need to do it in anger, we already know what we have to do and how to work together.”
The A400M fleet has recently been involved in evacuating civilians from Kabul and Sudan, as well as humanitarian airdrops into Gaza. German commanders say bringing the aircraft to the South Pacific demonstrates how far they can project those capabilities.
Colonel Markus Knoll, who leads the German contingent (Luftwaffe), said New Zealand holds symbolic significance too.
“Over 100 years ago, we were on different sides. We were enemies.
Now we are sharing the same values,” he said.
“It is great to train here and to learn from the past, and to defend democracy together with our allies.”
The German Air Force has been surprised by the strong public reaction - with thousands of New Zealanders filming the low-flying A400Ms roaring over towns, coastlines and farmland.
Knoll said the welcome, which included a haka performed by the RNZAF, was “overwhelming”.
“We knew we would be received as friends, but the way you take us into your arms… that was amazing,” he said.
The exercise wraps this week, with both forces hinting this is only the beginning of a long-term partnership.
New Zealand personnel expect reciprocal opportunities to train in Germany - something Williams says would be “huge” for Kiwi crews.
With geopolitical pressures rising in Europe, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific, both sides say cooperation between like-minded nations is becoming increasingly essential.
– Aziz Al Sa’afin travelled with the German Air Force aboard the A400M for this report.
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