New helicopter for Holzdorf: Bundeswehr becomes a NATO heavyweight!

New helicopter for Holzdorf: Bundeswehr becomes a NATO heavyweight!

on the Fliegerhorst Holzdorf there is a lot of hustle and bustle. Lieutenant Colonel Sascha Blebohm shines, while near one of his soldiers, a CH-53 helicopter is currently promoting to heaven. "It is fantastic when an airfield is actually in operation," he explains, and laughing is noticeable, despite the noise around him. After all, the heart of the military is strongly connected to these transport helicopters; They have been of great importance in many international operations in recent years.

But now there is a change of upheaval. Blebohm reports full of anticipation about the 47 new CH-47 Chinook helicopters, which will soon be stationed in Holzdorf. "This becomes one of NATO's largest helicopter locations outside the USA," emphasizes the lieutenant colonel. Preparations for these new machines are in full swing, while German pilots and technicians are already being trained in the USA and other countries. The aim is that they are ready for use in 2027 when the new helicopters arrive.

Intensive training in the helicopter center

The training does not only take place abroad; Training is also diligently trained at the location in Holzdorf. Here soldiers practice picking up and stopping loads from the air. In one of the training flights, a helicopter hovers at a safe height over floor soldiers who prepare a trailer. While the machines slide through the air quickly, the view from above offers a clear view of the entire base base.

You stand on the floor and pull ropes on the trailer, ready for the next exercise unit. As soon as the rotor blades float over the intended exercise areas while lifting the trailers. Making that everything is connected correctly is essential. As soon as everything is finished, the full potential of the helicopter develops while he gets into the air with the trailer.

of the heavy transport helicopters, as Blebohm describes it, embodies the "premier class" among the air transporters. Safe air anchor trips and armed rescue missions are one of the impressive possibilities of this machine that the Bundeswehr is supposed to lead to new dimensions of air operations. Blebohm is certain that the new type can master many challenges that could not be mastered with the older models.

Construction projects on the air base and global security situation

In order to create space to create the new helicopter, comprehensive construction work is necessary. The Ministry of Defense has ordered a total of 60 new helicopters, most of which are stationed in Holzdorf. While the construction preparations are slowly progressing, it is clear that the air force base plays a central role in the air defense in Germany.

commander Colonel Karsten olf emphasizes how important the air monitoring and the protection of German airspace are. On this day, Holzdorf takes part in an exercise in which various scenarios are played through that cover crisis and war cases. "The global security situation is tense," he explains. Despite their protective function, attacks on military facilities cannot be ruled out, which underlines the urgency of the interventions.

The Mayor of Jessen, Michael Jahn, faces the entire project with mixed feelings. "I am very sad about returning to military conflicts," he says, but recognizes the need to expand the location. The Ukraine conflict has made it aware that improved defense is essential. This could also lead to the growth of the population in the region and strengthen the infrastructure.

The conversations about military upgrade continue to attract attention, while the entire region is waiting for the significant changes that will bring these new helicopters. Holzdorf has the potential to develop into an important NATO hub in the coming years. Further information and details about the planning and the current state of developments are in a comprehensive report to be found on www.mdr.de