「共同訓練で関係強化、不可分に」　空自と独空軍の結束強調―北海道・千歳

　日本に派遣中のドイツ空軍機と航空自衛隊の共同訓練「ニッポンスカイズ２４」が始まり、空自千歳基地（北海道千歳市）で２３日、日独の共同記者会見が開かれた。空自の鈴木康彦航空総隊司令官は「訓練で両国関係は強く結ばれ、不可分になった」と結束をアピールした。
　日独２国間の共同訓練は２０２２年９月以来。独空軍と空自の戦闘機計７機などが参加し、空中戦や迎撃戦といったより高度な訓練を行う。今年１月に結ばれた物品役務相互提供協定（ＡＣＳＡ）に基づき、初めて独側に燃料などが提供された。（2024/07/23-18:52）

A senior official of Japan's Air Self-Defense Force stressed the strong unity between the ASDF and the German Air Force on Tuesday.
   "The two countries' relations have become strong and inseparable through the drill," Lt. Gen. Yasuhiko Suzuki, commander of the Air Defense Command, told a joint news conference held after the two sides started the Nippon Skies 24 joint exercise Monday.
   Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz, chief of the German Air Force, told the news conference at the ASDF's Chitose base in Hokkaido, northernmost Japan, that the joint drill is aimed at strongly demonstrating that Europe and the Indo-Pacific region are inseparable in terms of security and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. He also voiced hope that the ASDF will dispatch aircraft to Europe.
   The joint exercise, the first of its kind since September 2022, brought together seven fighter jets from the German Air Force and the ASDF. It includes advanced training for air and interception battles.
   For the exercise, Japan provided fuel and other supplies to the German side under the bilateral acquisition and cross-servicing agreement, or ACSA, for the first time. The agreement was concluded in January this year.