Germany is preparing to host the largest air exercises in NATO history in a show of forces that are expected to impress both allies and send signals to potential adversaries such as Russia, German and US officials said on Wednesday. 

The exercises Air Defender 23, will begin next week with the involvement of 10,000 troops from 25 states and 250 military aircraft responding to a simulated attack on a NATO member state.

The exercises, which Germany will lead, have been since 2018, but Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year prompted NATO to more actively prepare to repel a potential attack on its territory.