Blue Flag is the largest ever aerial exercise in Israel.
Gathering more than 100 aircraft from 8 countries, Exercise Blue Flag 2017, underway at Ovda, in Israel, is the biggest exercise ever organized by the Israeli Air Force. Combat planes from the United States, Greece, Poland, France, Germany, India, Italy and Israel are taking part in the drills.
The main focus of the exercise has been placed on reconnaissance, air-strikes and SEAD operations.
As the Polska Zbrojna outlet reports, Poland has sent six F-16 jets and 120 soldiers to participate in the operation. Starting from Nov. 2. the Polish pilots were involved in briefings, with the first missions scheduled for the subsequent weekend.
The exercise involves large multinational flight-groups with a variety of aircraft types in a classic COMAO scenario. The Polish pilots are stating that the experiences gathered during the operation would be invaluable, with the flights taking place over the whole territory of Israel, over the deserts, the sea, at night and during the day.
One of the issues that the pilots need to get ready for is the fact that the air over the operational theater in Israel would by much more dusty, with a possible impact on operation of the sensors, as one of the Polish pilots, Col. Przemysław Struj, said within his statement for Polska Zbrojna.
Nonetheless the experience is not be entirely new for the Polish crews as the Polish F-16 aircraft have already taken part in a Blue Flag exercise in the past and have supported Operation Inherent Resolve, the US-led air war on ISIS, from Kuwait. However, for some of the pilots the Blue Flag operation will be a first-time flying over the desert. The scenario also assumes usage of means of electronic warfare.
Image Credit: Filip Modrzejewski
Also, How much crap can you bolt to an F-16?
Its all about the money…..
I was thinking exactly the same!
They must have long spindly legs,haha
Considering the F-16 can do about 1 minute of flight with burners (go supersonic basically) on the additional of conformal tanks actually gives the F-16 true supersonic capability.
Are the various countries joining in so they can practice protecting Israel?Or is it a convenient means to practice in an unfamiliar environment?
It sounds more like the latter
“Are the various countries joining in so they can practice protecting Israel?”
I hope so. After all, it’s not exactly like they have caring, civilized neighbors. And on a very good note, it seems the U.S. is building their first military base in the Jewish State. I think that’s great!
US breaks ground for new permanent base in Israel
TEL AVIV, Israel — U.S. and Israeli officers broke ground in Israel on Monday for a permanent U.S. Army base that will house dozens of U.S. soldiers, operating under the American flag, and charged with the mission of defending against rocket and missile attack.
The American base, officers in Israel say, will be an independent facility co-located at the Israel Defense Forces Air Defense School in southern Israel, near the desert capital of Beersheba. Once completed, the base will house U.S. operational systems to identify and intercept a spectrum of aerial threats, along with barracks, recreational and other facilities required to support several dozen American air defenders.
https://www.defensenews.com/breaking-news/2017/09/18/us-breaks-ground-for-new-permanent-base-in-israel/
May Israel’s enemies read it and weep! I hope we expand it in order to hold thousands of American troops. Matter of fact, let’s build an airbase to rival İncirlik, where btw we may not find ourselves welcome much longer given the Islamic antics of Erdogan. We need a backup plan, and an airbase in Israel would be just that. Build it!