Bundeswehr exercise Mountain Hornet” brings noise to Berchtesgadener Land!

Bundeswehr exercise Mountain Hornet” brings noise to Berchtesgadener Land!

In the coming weeks, the sky over the Berchtesgadener Land and Bad Reichenhall will come alive again - and for good reason: the Bundeswehr is conducting the “Mountain Hornet” exercise. This major national and alliance defense exercise will take place from the end of June to mid-July 2025. Organized by the Air Force Liaison Command and the Mountain Infantry Brigade 23, it will bring together many soldiers from Germany, Austria and other international partners. BG Country 24 informed that the affected locations may experience noise disturbance during this exercise, especially in the 27th and 28th calendar week.

In the first phase, which takes place from June 30th to July 4th, the training activities will be carried out in Berchtesgadener Land, Bischofswiesen, Kammer and Ruhpolding, among others. This is followed by the second phase from July 7th to 11th, where the airspace between Reiteralpe and Kirchholz will be flown over more often. The exercise will involve a variety of aircraft including PC-7, PC-9 (turboprop), Learjet, A4, Alpha-Jet, Eurofighter and helicopters. Ruhpolding town hall emphasizes that all airspace users are asked to inform themselves about possible airspace closures.

Learning field under alpine conditions

The exercise is not only an opportunity to carry out practical operations, but also an important part of training under alpine conditions. The aim is to train cooperation between flight control staff and aircraft crews - a challenge that poses very special requirements, especially in the Alps. The Bundeswehr Sport Magazine highlights that soldiers from different NATO countries come together here to improve their skills and develop common tactics.

We can probably expect an interesting spectacle that will also be watched with attention by the population. The Mountain Infantry Brigade 23 is already asking for the residents' understanding of the resulting noise development and assures us that all measures will be taken to keep the impact as low as possible. There are also special times for flight operations: there can be action in the sky between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., while there are short breaks between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

A true international collaboration

With each passing year, the Mountain Hornet exercise becomes more international. In addition to the German soldiers, units from Austria and other countries will also take part, which underlines the multinational nature of the exercise. Last year, when the exercise took place, numerous troops from European countries came together to exchange experiences and learn from each other. This is reflected not only in the implementation of various exercises, but also in the lively exchange between the respective nations.

The large array of military aircraft, especially Eurofighters and helicopters, promises an impressive picture and shows how seriously the Bundeswehr is taking the challenge of national defense. The earth will also be disturbed on site, as camouflaged vehicles will be used to simulate enemies, but these will have no impact on traffic.

We can't wait to see what awaits us in the coming weeks. The exercises from the “Mountain Hornet” series are evidence of the armed forces’ constant development and adaptability in alpine terrain. So be ready for the demonstrations over our heads and let's show the soldiers that they can count on our support.