German Air Force Chief Says Country Ready to Defend NATO Territory

The head of Germany's air force said the country is ready to fight Russia tonight and will protect every inch of NATO territory if Moscow attacks an allied nation. Lt Gen Holger Neumann, the Luftwaffe's commanding officer, made the comments in his first interview with a British newspaper.

He said devastating air strikes would be launched against Russia in the event of an attack on any NATO member. "Fight tonight means if someone calls me now and says we have the following situation here, we have to be ready now and we are ready," the 57-year-old general told The Telegraph.

The general identified several Russian sites requiring close monitoring, including the Kola Peninsula, St Petersburg, and the Black Sea region. He stated there are no zones of different security within NATO. An attack on Estonia would receive the same response as an attack on London, he said. The general also offered German air defense support to Britain through NATO channels if requested.

Germany's air force is shifting from transport and reconnaissance roles toward full-scale combat readiness. The general credited government funding for expanding stockpiles of Patriot, Iris-T, and Arrow 3 missile systems. He warned against underestimating Russian capabilities, citing Su-35, Su-57, and MiG-31 aircraft along with cruise, ballistic, and hypersonic weapons.

The general noted Russian forces have gained combat experience in Ukraine while NATO has remained largely in peacetime.