IAF, US Air Force hold largest joint-military exercise in Israel's history

Expansive Exercise IAF plane taking off during drill Photo: Yair Sagi     IAF, US Air Force hold largest joint-military exercise in Israel's history Israel, Greece, Italy, US are holding massive aerial training exercise in Israel with almost 100 aircraft. IDF stress: Exercise has nothing to do with Iran Yoav Zitun Published:  11.25.13, 15:10 / Israel News Some 50 fighter jets belonging to Israel, Greece, the US and Italy took off Sunday morning from the Ovda air base, signaling the beginning of the largest military air exercise in Israel's history. צילום: רועי עידן Blue Flag exercise takes off The Blue Flag exercise is being hosted by Israel will continue until Thursday and will include more than 60 jet fighters among them the Tornado, AMX and F-15. The IAF is also sharing its jets, both as part of the allies' forces and as the mock-enemy they will target. Related stories: IDF to simulate Gaza seizure in Ashkelon drill IDF holds flight exercise ahead of Iran talks Surprise military drill simulates coordinated terror attacks The IDF stresses that the exercise's goal is to examine the group's general aerial capabilities, not focusing on any specific operational situation; the comments are intended to stress that the exercise is not related to any future possible attack plan on Iran. IAF pilot preparing for drill (Photo: Yair Sagi)    The exercise has been in the works for over a year, and in anticipation the IAF conducted two training flights a day during the last six months. According to an IDF source, each one of the participating countries is paying for the costs of its respective share in the exercise. Representatives from over 20 nations – including a slew of military attachés and representatives from the Cypriot and Bulgarian air forces – are viewing the exercise. However, the Turkish and Polish representatives did not partake. IAF plane before the mission (Photo: Yair Sagi)    The Polish delegation was forced to back out of the training mission because of budgetary reasons, despite the fact that Polish pilots have been training with their Israel counterparts for some months. The exercise includes training missions to identify anti-aircraft missiles – ranging from RPGs to advanced systems – as well as surface-to-air ones. The exercise will also include mock dogfights. US, Italy, Greece, and Israeli pilots before the drill (Photo: Yair Sagi)    For the first time, the training will include the use of a new information system which sends live data from the plane to ground forces. "In the past, foreign nations were uncomfortable in sharing this level information gather after flights, but this time it is happening," a military official involved in the exercise reported. "The IAF has been practicing operations with foreign militaries for more than three decades, but only recently have be begun training together on a daily basis. This includes daily flights to Greece. The IAF has become attractive to foreign armies because of its massive operational experience," he said. Diplomats as well as journalists from Israel and the participating nations were invited to watch the exercise. US Ambassador in Israel Dan Shapiro, who took a few hours off from Israel's scathing reactions to the Geneva agreement with Iran spoke and said "We live in a tough world and dangerous world. Israel lives in a dangerous neighborhood…It needs the best trained forces … and it needs allies."