New Delhi/ Tel Aviv, Oct 15 (UNI) India will participate in a multilateral combat exercise in Israel along with Germany, Italy, Britain, France, Greece and US, the wargames would witness the deployment of a British fighter squadron, India's Mirage fighters, and French Rafale aircrafts.
A statement from Israeli Air Force said the exercise this year will be the largest and most advanced aerial exercise ever held in Israel.
"This is the first deployment of a British fighter squadron in Israel since the establishment of the country, as well as the first-ever deployment of an Indian "Mirage" fighter squadron in Israel, and the first deployment of a French "Rafale" fighter squadron in Israel," a statement by the Israeli Air Force said.
"We are living in a very complicated region, and the threats to the State of Israel from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran are only increasing. Holding an international exercise in this current reality, while continuing our public and covert operational activities on all fronts, is of utmost strategic importance and has extensive impact over the Israeli Air Force, the IDF, and the State of Israel", Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin, Commander of the Israeli Air Force, was quoted as saying in an official release.
This year's theme for the exercise is the integration of fourth and fifth-generation aircraft in complex operational scenarios. With the rise in the use of fifth-generation fighters around the world, the exercise will focus on combining them with other platforms in the battlefield.
The exercise also aims at improving combat compatibility among participating countries by providing an opportunity for integrating weapon systems, combat doctrines, and operational protocols.
The Israeli Air Force said they have tried to create "heterogenic scenarios" that combine different countries, squadrons, and generations.
"Fourth-generation aircraft will fly alongside fifth-generation aircraft in ways that utilize the relative advantages of each platform. Cooperation between different generation aircrafts strongly enhances the power of an air force," the statement said.
India first participated in the biennial exercise in November 2017, when the exercise took place at the Uvda Air Force Base in Israel.
During the annual press conference of Indian Air Force this year, Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Choudhari had said India has participated in numerous international exercises over the last year to hone it's skills, build strategic partnership, and further military diplomacy.
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