SNAP 2020 exercise at Nörvenich air base

On 8 and 9 September 2020, the exercise "SNAP 2020" (Significance of National Air Power 2020) has taken place at Nörvenich airbase (Germany).

The exercise is regularly carried out by the Luftwaffe (GAF, German Air Force) and is used to practice the evacuation of German citizens, those under protection or soldiers from crisis and war zones in a combined air operation.

On both days in the morning hours, the air base had to deal with interception maneuvers at low altitude, simulated attacks on the airbase, air surveillance from medium altitude, and the simulation of personal evacuations. These days saw multiple flight movements outside the usual corridors.

These days were very busy for Nörvenich airbase, just a few weeks after they finished the Blue Wings 2020 exercise, where six Israeli F-16C/F-16D fighter aircraft and two SIGINT Gulfstreams (Nachshon) flew multiple missions on an almost daily basis for a period of two weeks.

Photos: Patrick Vercauteren