Egypt steps up training with Bright Star

Bright Star is run in co-operation with the USA, and was first held in 1980 in the wake of the 1978 Camp David Accords and the 1979 peace treaty with Israel that followed, and marked a US reward for Egypts recognition of the Israeli state, as well as a real effort to improve the military capabilities of its new ally, and to drive interoperability.

The latest Bright Star saw participation by 21 nations, with Egypt and the USA joined by the UK, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Pakistan, and by Arab nations including Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates. African participants were Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania. Operations were mounted from a number of bases, but the headquarters for the exercise was at the Mohamed Naguib Military Base in Mersa Matruh in north west Egypt. The base is home to a Westland Commando assault helicopter squadron and the 232nd Tactical Fighter Wing, with two squadrons of F-16As.

The exercise mainly involved tactical fighter aircraft, but Boeing B-52H Stratofortress bombers and various transport aircraft types also took part, and anti-tank helicopters participated in the live fire phase of the exercise.

Most of the participating aircraft flew from Cairo West Air Base, but RAF Typhoons (making their Bright Star debut) flew from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. They were supported by an RAF Voyager, also from RAF Akrotiri, which provided air-to-air refuelling.

Wing Commander ‘Dutch’ Holland, the Commanding Officer of No.903 Expeditionary Air Wing, said that: “Exercises such as Bright Star 21 are vital as we develop and maintain interoperability with our coalition partners if the RAF is to be truly effective on operations throughout the Middle East.  Flying with other air forces requires extensive planning and the contributions of 903 Expeditionary Air Wing personnel have ensured that the exercise was safely and successfully completed.”

The exercises were attended by General Mohamed Zaki, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, who passed on the greetings of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to all participants.