Israel holds large air force drill with 8 other countries

Bs_logoImage
AP Jerusalem
Last Updated : Nov 10 2017 | 9:32 PM IST
Israel's military said today that it was holding its largest-ever air drill, with pilots from eight countries and dozens of aircraft simulating combat scenarios and facing off in training exercises.
Some 1000 participants from the United States, Germany and France, among others, were in Israel for the drill codenamed "Blue Flag," the third of its kind. Germany, India and France were taking part for the first time.
Fighter jets, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles from participating countries were involved in the simulations, which range from air battles to dealing with anti-aircraft systems.
The military said the two-week drill, which takes place every two years, comes amid volatility in the region.
"Against that background, a drill this broad with countries that come here is very significant," said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with military regulations.
The official said the drill allows for the participating countries to learn from each other and to learn to work together should the need arise in the future.
The drill comes as Israel faces challenges from neighboring Syria where the Iran-backed Shiite Lebanese militant group Hezbollah is fighting alongside government forces. Israel fears its archenemy Iran will establish a Shiite "corridor" on its doorstep, with land links from Iran to Lebanon, allowing for the movement of militants and weapons across the region.

Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content

You’ve hit your limit of 5 free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.

Already subscribed? Log in

Subscribe to read the full story →
Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Access to Exclusive Premium Stories Online

  • Over 30 behind the paywall stories daily, handpicked by our editors for subscribers

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Nov 10 2017 | 9:32 PM IST

3 out of 5 articles left

Subscribe to read without limits
Subscribe Now