The Israeli Air Force (IAF) will conduct a five-day exercise in the south of the country from Sunday to Thursday, involving over one thousand personnel from four nations, the US, Germany, Italy, and Greece, an IDF spokesperson reported on Friday. This is the first time Israel will hold such a complex joint mission involving what is known as the Fifth Generation of combat jets, the F-35, also known as stealth fighters.The IAF currently has 14 F-35 Adir aircraft at the moment and is expected to receive from the US a total of 50 planes to make two full squadrons by 2024.
Dozens of dog fights are expected to take place between IAF pilots and those of the other air forces involved in 'Blue Flag' as well as practicing scenarios of ground-to-air fights and simulated fighting in enemy-held territory.