Aircraft from various air forces at Uvda Air Force Base north of Eilat for Exercise ‘Blue Flag 21'. (Israeli Air Force)
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) has simulated a range of Russian-made surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems during Exercise ‘Blue Flag 21', the biennial multinational event it is hosting at Uvda Air Force Base from 17–28 October.
IAF officers said S-75 (SA-2), S-125 (SA-3), 2K12 Kub (SA-6), 9K33 Osa (SA-8), and Pantsir-S1 (SA-22) SAM systems are being simulated using a variety of emitters that include the new Scorpius-T training system made by Israel Aerospace Industries' (IAI's) Elta subsidiary.
Ground teams have also simulated launches from man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS) and the ‘red force' that is playing the role of the enemy includes an Israel Patriot air-defence battery, as well as F-16 fighters from the IAF's 115 ‘Red Dragon' Squadron and F-35I Adir fighters.
The IAF views its growing fleet of fifth-generation F-35s as the cornerstone of its suppression of enemy air-defences capability due to the aircraft's ability to detect threats and send targeting information to other aircraft. “The fifth-generation aircraft build situational awareness and the fourth generation delivers huge amounts of missiles and bombs to targets,” an IAF source said.
Approximately 70 aircraft from eight countries are taking part in Exercise ‘Blue Flag', including the France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
IAI announced on 21 October that this is the first time the Elta ELL-8257SB Scorpius-T training system has participated in an international exercise.
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