ISLAMABAD: A Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) contingent of nearly 180 pilots and air engineering technicians is participating in a two-week drill organized by the Pakistan Air Force, a PAF spokesperson said on Sunday.
The ACES MEET 2021 is an aerial exercise to maximize the combat readiness of participating air forces through air-to-air combat training. The United States Air Force will also participate in the drill.
This photo shared by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense on March 27, 2021, shows Saudi aircraft participating in the Pakistan Air Force ACES MEET 2021 drill. (Photo courtesy: Saudi Ministry of Defense)
The Saudi contingent reached Pakistan on Friday with several Panavia Tornado multirole combat aircraft and the Lockheed C-130 Hercules.
"The RSAF total contingent has almost 180 officials which included pilots, aircraft engineers and technicians," the spokesperson told Arab News.
He added that PAF will be using its F-16 and JF-17 Thunder fighter jets.
"Exercise is aimed at promoting inter-operability and creating environment to learn from each other’s experiences," the spokesperson said, adding that it will include Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT), in which pilots undertake air combat exercises against similar aircraft.
"The participation of RSAF with its big contingent is a reaffirmation that both brotherly countries are there with each other and continue to enhance bilateral cooperation and ties."
