DEFENDER is the Army’s largest annual opportunity to exercise moving personnel and equipment into theater across modes for initial and follow-on operations critical to Large Scale Combat Operations. Led by U.S. Army Europe and Africa, the exercise focuses on the strategic deployment of CONUS-based forces, employment of Army Prepositioned Stock and follow-on exercises demonstrating lethality and interoperability with Allies and partners

DEFENDER 25 Outreach tour
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Videos
Video by Clayton Cummins
First E-3 Sentry AWACS to Perform Training Mission at Tinker AFB in 1977 Departs for Retirement
72nd Air Base Wing
May 22, 2023 | 1:27
The third E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft to be retired from the United States Air Force departed Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City Monday morning.

Tail Number 75-0557 takes with it a rich history. On March 31, 1977, the aircraft was the first E-3 Sentry AWACS to depart Tinker Air Force Base for a training mission. According to the 1977 flight order, 26 Airmen and two Boeing employees were on board at takeoff.
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