For the first time since the "Abraham Agreements":
The UAE Air Force Commander arrived today (Tuesday) as the guest of the Air Force Commander, Maj. Who will come to watch the exercise.
Commander of the Ovda Base, Col. H., and pilots from the American and German Air Force in the Blue Flag exercise, October 2021 // Photo: IDF Spokesman
The "Blue Peleg" exercise is a large-scale aerial exercise that takes place once every two years at the Air Force base in fact, with the current exercise being the fifth in number, and aims to simulate challenging combat scenarios and coalition flight.
The current exercise, which is currently taking place in the south of the country, is the largest and most advanced of the "Blue Peleg" exercises conducted to date.
Preparations for the extensive exercise took about ten months, and this year the exercise involves eight countries practicing a combination of 4th generation aircraft with 5th generation (F-35) aircraft, with 70 fighter jets and about 1,500 foreigners who arrived in Israel during the Corona period.
For the first time since the establishment of the state, the British Air Force is participating in an exercise with fighter jets, and this is also the first time that fighter jets from India have arrived in the country.
Also, for the first time, the French are deployed in Israel with "Raphael" aircraft.
A plane in a Blue Flag exercise, Photo: Lilach Shoval
"We are doing an international exercise with an Israeli flavor, which focuses on missions to protect the country's skies. This is something that European countries are less accustomed to. Brigadier General Amir Lazar.
On the "red" force that simulates the enemy in the exercise, the IAF Squadron 115 under the command of Lt. Col. A., to which F-15 and F-16i aircraft were attached, believes. Participants in the exercise.In the last three days, the forces will be divided into two and each group will have to conduct for three days a rolling scenario, the success or failure of a particular day will affect the next day.
Lt. Col. A. simulating the enemy in the Blue Flag exercise, Photo: Lilach Shoval
As stated, 11 Air Force commanders from around the world are expected to arrive tomorrow to watch the exercise, and for the first time also the Air Force Commander of the UAE.
As part of the exercise, an F-35 conference is also expected to be held at the Nabataean Air Force Base, which will be attended by countries with advanced fighter jets: Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States and Belgium.
Practitioners flying a coalition in the Blue Flag exercise, Photo: IDF Spokesman
"We see great strategic value for both the Air Force and the State of Israel in conducting this exercise," added Brigadier General Lazar.
There is a mutual study here - how to integrate the F-35 into a coalition in combat. "
Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Nurkin said: "The joint training allows us to learn from the air forces participating in the exercise, and prepares Air Force personnel for real-time scenarios in order to continue to succeed in our mission - protecting the security of the State of Israel."
