IDF to host foreign air forces in major military drill next month

Over 100 aircraft will take part in IAF-planned air-to-air, air-to- surface simulated combat drills, according to report.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
IAF jet 370 (photo credit: REUTERS)
IAF jet 370
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The Israel Air Force will host pilots and officers from foreign air forces for a major joint drill in southern Israel next month, the IDF said on Tuesday.
Details of the drill are being withheld for security reasons, an IDF spokeswoman stated.
The US-based Defense News website said in a report on Monday that nearly a thousand officers and pilots from at least three countries will arrive for desert-based air combat training, scheduled for November.
“Patterned after the US Air Force’s annual Red Flag desert exercise, the two-week Blue Flag at the Air Force’s Uvda training range north of Eilat marks Israel’s first multinational training event,” Defense News said.
Over 100 aircraft will take part in IAF-planned air-to-air and air-to- surface simulated combat drills, the report added.
“Due to diplomatic and security concerns, Israel is withholding the identities of participating air forces until their personnel and aircraft are safely in country,” it said.
According to Defense News, the US Air Force, as well as air crews from Bulgaria, Poland, Canada, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary and Italy are all potential participants, and have trained with the IAF in recent years.