IAF team sets out for military exercise in Egypt

IN a move that could elevate the nation's military ties with Egypt, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Sunday sent its contingent to participate in Exercise Bright Star-23, a biennial multilateral triservice exercise scheduled to be held at Cairo (West) Air Base in Egypt from August 27 to September 16.

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"This is for the first time that IAF is participating in Exercise Bright Star-23, which will also see participation of contingents from the United States of America, Saudi Arabia, Greece and Qatar," the IAF said in a statement.

The objective of the exercise is to practice planning and execution of joint operations. Besides leading to the formation of bonding across borders, such interactions also provide a means to further strategic relations between participating nations, IAF added.

The Indian Air Force contingent will consist of five MiG-29, two IL-78, two C-130 and two C-17 aircraft. Personnel from the IAF's Garud Special Forces, as well as those from the Numbers 28, 77, 78 and 81 Squadrons, will participate in the exercise.