On Sunday, the 12-day international "Blue Flag" air combat exercise began in Israel in which Air force teams from eight countries including India are participating.

According to the Israel Defense Forces, the fifth biennial Blue Flag annual exercise is taking place at the Ovda Air Force Base in southern Israel, with the participation of air force teams from the United States, Germany, Italy, Britain, France, India and Greece

“The goal of the exercise is strengthening the strategic, international cooperation, learning and deepening the coordination of fifth- and fourth- generation airplanes in a challenging operational environment, with an emphasis on strengthening and building up the operational capabilities of the air forces,” the IDF said in a statement.

“During the exercise, the participants will simulate in-air battles and ground-to-air battles, and will practice dealing with the threat of advanced surface-to-air missiles and combat behind enemy lines,” the military said.

According to the IDF, this will be the “largest and most advanced” Blue Flag exercise. It will be the first time in the country’s history that Royal Air Force pilots will fly fighter jets over Israel, as well as the first time that Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 jets and French Air Force Dassault Rafale jets will fly over Israel.

“We live in the most complicated environment, with threats against the State of Israel from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Iran, which are getting greater. Holding this international exercise, in the current reality, while continuing to conduct operational activities — overt and covert — on all fronts is of the utmost strategic importance,” Israel Air Force chief Amikam Norkin said.

“The exercise is at a high point in terms of the extent of participating countries, the quality of the drill, and the advanced level of the technology. It expresses the strong cooperation and connection with the countries’ air forces and represents fertile ground for regional and international cooperation,” he said in a statement as quoted by The Times of Israel.

Image Courtesy: Israel Air Force