Saudi Arabian Air Force participate in Exercise Red Flag 2017

Besides The Royal Saudi Air Force, this drill included a number of global air forces, including the US and NATO forces.

Lieutenant Colonel Khalid al-Yousef, the Commander of the Saudi team participating in the Red Flag and Green Flag exercises said the event maximises the Royal Saudi Air Force’s readiness for real air combat situations.

Yousef added that the purpose of the large-scale aerial exercises is to enhance the survivability of participants through very realistic aerial war games, and give them the chance to exchange ideas.

Lieutenant Colonel Badr bin Eid al-Fayidi, Assistant Commandant of the Royal Saudi Air Force, also said the air-to-air combat exercises have been held since 1975, and Saudi air crews have participated in the Red and Green Flag six times.

Exercise Red Flag is an advanced aerial combat training exercise hosted at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Since 1975, air crews from the United States Air Force (USAF), United States Navy (USN), United States Marine Corps (USMC), United States Army (USA) and numerous NATO or other allied nations' air forces take part in one of several Red Flag exercises held during the year, each of which is two weeks in duration.