IAF To Participate In Multi-Nation Air Combat Exercise In Israel This Month

The Indian Air Force will participate in air exercises in Israel and Egypt later this month.

The multi-nation `Blue Flag’ air combat exercise in Israel will also witness participation of the US, UK, Germany, Italy, France and Greece.

After the air exercise in Israel, India will also participate in Exercise 'Hop' in Egypt.

"Air Force is scheduled to participate in Ex Blue Flag in Israel and Hop Ex in Egypt later this month," said the new Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari at the annual presser.

This will be fifth time IAF will participate in multilateral exercise in the last five years. In 2016, the IAF participated in American 'Red Flag' exercise while in 2017, it took part in the Israeli 'Blue Flag'. In 2018, the IAF participated in the Australian 'Pitch Black' wargames.

The IAF in March this year had also deployed Sukhoi-30MKI fighters and C-17 Globemaster-III aircraft for the `Desert Flag’ exercise in the UAE.

'Desert Flag' was the first multilateral exercise India took part in the Gulf Region.

“Over the last one year, we have participated in numerous international exercises to hone our skills, build strategic partnerships and further military diplomacy,” said IAF chief, reports Times of India.

“We hosted the French Air Force during exercise `Desert Knight’ in January this year and carried out operational engagements with US aircraft carrier strike groups in March and June. The IAF participated for the first time in the Desert Flag exercise in UAE and we performed exceedingly well there,” he added.