Combat Aircraft ventures into the Negev Desert for Exercise ‘Blue Flag 2017’ at Ovda air base.
MULTI-COLORED ROCK FORMATIONS, wadis and sand dunes, all under the dome of a clear blue sky. Here, in the Negev Desert, a new era of multi-national maneuvers and a varied array of aircraft and squadrons congregated for the largest exercise Israel has seen in recent times.
The third biennial ‘Blue Flag’ exercise was hosted by the Israeli Air Force (IAF) at Ovda air base from November 2-16. The aggressors of 115 ‘Flying Dragon’ Squadron, part of the Advanced Training Center, acted as hosts, while Tel Nof’s 133 ‘Knights of the Twin Tail’ Squadron — operating the F-15A to D — was the lead unit. The hosts transitioned from the F-16A Netz to the F-16C Block 40 Barak in April 2017, but they retain their specialist Red Air enemy tactics mandate.
