NATO Days Ostrava 2023

The NATO Days at Ostrava and Czech Air Force Days in the Czech Republic are reckoned as the biggest security show in Europe. Once again the event has attracted an estimated number of 185.00 visitors on the week-end of September 16^th-17^th 2023. With free entrance to the site, the public literally starting flooding Ostrava’s Mošnov airport already in the early morning hours. Additionally, to an extensive show and display of ground equipment, NATO Days feature an extensive flying display as well.

Poland acted as this year’s special partner, which resulted in a high number of display items of one of NATO’s most Eastern nations. Of course aviation enthusiasts were eagerly looking forward to the announced flying displays of the MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-22 Fitter during the show. However, they were cancelled just days prior to the event and further neither of those types showed up in Ostrava. Instead, Poland presented their F-16 Tiger Display team, and on ground an F-16D Fighting Falcon armed up with a AGM-158 JASSM and GBU-38 JDAM bombs together with one of their brand new KAI FA-50GF light fighter and a Bayraktar TB2 UAV. Showing up at Ostrava only with its most modern equipment can be interpreted as a clear sign that Poland quickly wants to dispose Soviet equipment from its current inventory.

The air display of the NATO Days was a refreshing mix of display teams, jets and helicopters, and saw some rare acts, which did not attend many other airshows this year.

The same can also be said for the host nation’s Air Force. The Czech Republic’s brand new AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom were on public display for the first time , and an F-35A Lightning II mock-up wearing the Czech roundel was also prominently set up on ground. This was in the light of the Czech Republic planning to acquire 24 of those jets as a replacement of its Saab Gripens. Furthermore, the opening formation this time included a tightly flown formation of two Czech Saab Gripens and a USAF F-35A Lightning II. At the same, NATO Days 2023 were the farewell show for the Czech Mi-35, which will be phased out within the next months and all of the remaining helicopters are going to be transferred to Ukraine to support their fight against the Russian invasion.

The air display of the NATO Days was a refreshing mix of display teams, jets and helicopters, and saw some rare acts, which did not attend many other airshows this year. The German Luftwaffe presented its Airbus A400M transport aircraft, and the Army Aviation the NH90 helicopter, which clearly used the flares of its self-defence system for a spectacular effect towards the end of the display. The host nation presented its Saab Gripen, just as did Hungary. Both displays now feature a ‚dump and burn‘ manoeuvre, during which dumped fuel gets ignited by the afterburner. Being held in the middle of September, Ostrava was also the seasoning closure for the Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon display that was complemented by the Eurofighter solo display from Albacete, Spain. For the USAF F-35 Lightning II display, NATO Days were the third and final aerial display in Europe this year. It was complemented by an F-35B STOVL variant of the RAF that performed outside of the UK for the first time.

… a show of force and modernization as these (Eastern European) Air Forces are moving fast towards Western equipment

With both days offering glorious sunshine and being fully fully packed with ground and aerial displays from 9am until around 5pm, it was difficult to find much time to stroll around the static displays. The ground exhibition offered rare sights such as a General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, a Lithuanian Let L410 UVP, a Brazilian Embraer C-390, or the most recent Tornado ECR Tiger scheme of Luftwaffe’s Tactical Air Wing 51 out of Jagel. As with the C-390, those static displays are not just for the viewing pleasure of the general public, but are even more intended as a promotional event, trying to showcase their products that high-ranking officials that also attend the event.

With Ostrava being located in the East of the Czech Republic, the event has always been a safe bet to see former Soviet hardware still being used in neighbouring countries, which were formerly part of the Warsaw Pact. Nowadays this has changed significantly to a show of force and modernization as these Air Forces are moving fast towards Western equipment. And with Russia’s war against Ukraine still going on not far further East, the presentation of such equipment is more current than ever.

Last but not least… NATO Days 2024 ware the swansong for the Czech Mil Mi-24 / Mi-35 Hind, for which the decision was taken to transfer all of them to Ukraine until latest 2024. It was therefore a pleasure, and a sad sight as well, to see their flying display for a final time.

NATO Days Ostrava 2023 Photo Gallery