Israel to host multinational Blue Flag drills

Israel will host the international Air Force exercise Blue Flag in late October.

The Israeli military estimates the drills will be the most complex in many years in terms of scenario and scope, NEWSru.co.il reports.

In addition to five squadrons of the Israeli Air Force, flight squads of the Air Forces of Germany, the US, Italy, Greece and France will take part in the exercises. Britain pulled out of the exercise at the last minute.

Requests from several countries to participate in the exercise were rejected due to congestion. During the peak days of the exercise, up to 60 F-15, F-16, F-35, Eurofighter, Rafale combat aircraft, as well as reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft will take to the air.

Air Force commanders from more than 20 countries, including from Japan, Morocco and the UAE, will attend the exercise as observers.

According to journalist Yoav Zitoun, the German air unit will be expanded at Berlin's request, and the scenario has been modified to suit its needs. In particular, it will be practising confronting the S-400 air defence systems in service with Russia and Iran and Russian Su-35 aircraft.

The exercise will be conducted throughout the Mediterranean Sea to allow pilots to practice operations deep in enemy territory. In the scenarios, pilots will operate in an intelligence-deficient environment and will, among other things, practise what to do in the event of a failed operation.