Israel holds Exercise Blue Flag 2

Known as Exercise Blue Flag 21, the training was centred on Ovda (or Uvda) airbase north of Eilat, in the Negev Desert in southern Israel. The exercise was the latest in a series of biennial training drills that were launched in 2013, and that became a biennial event in 2015. The previous Blue Flag was held in 2019, and although only four guest nations participated, the event was the biggest and most advanced international air force exercise in Israel’s history. This year’s Blue Flag involved the air forces of Israel and at least seven other nations (France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, the UK and the USA).

The 11-day exercise began on Sunday October 17, and marked the first time a British fighter squadron (No.1 (Fighter) Squadron) had been deployed to Israel since the establishment of the state of Israel. It was also the first time that an Indian Mirage fighter squadron had been deployed to Israel, while the French Rafale also made its Israeli debut.

The exercise included advanced networking and co-ordinated operations with fifth generation fighters, including Israeli and Italian F-35s. The exercise also witnessed the return of the Italian Air Force G.550 Conformal Airborne Early Warning (CAEW) aircraft to Ovda after its participation during the 2019 iteration of the exercise.

The commander of the Israeli Air Force, Major General Amikam Norkin flew an F-15 Baaz in a ceremonial flyover, accompanied by Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, the Commander of the German Air Force in a specially painted Luftwaffe Typhoon decorated with the Israeli and German flags and known as the ‘Eagle Star’.

“We are living in a very complicated region, and the threats to the State of Israel from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran are only increasing. Holding an international exercise in this current reality, while continuing our public and covert operational activities on all fronts, is of utmost strategic importance and has an extensive impact over the Israeli Air Force, the IDF, and the State of Israel,” Norkin observed.