Germany is preparing to host the largest air deployment exercise in NATO history in a show of force against potential adversaries such as Russia, officials said. 

Air Defender 23 exercise, which begins next week, will see 10,000 participants and 250 aircraft from 25 countries respond to a simulated attack on a NATO member state. 

US alone is sending 2,000 US Air National Guard personnel and about 100 aircraft to take part in the training maneuvers between June 12 and 23. 

Amy Gutmann, the US ambassador to Germany, said: "I would be very surprised if any world leader did not take into account what this shows in terms of the spirit of this alliance, which means the strength of this alliance. And that includes Mr. Putin".

While the exercise has been planned for several years, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has prompted NATO to seriously prepare for the possibility of an attack on its territory. 

Sweden, which hopes to join the alliance, and Japan are also taking part in the exercise.