From the Liveblog of
Monday, July 12, 2021
Israel Air Force launches 1st international drone drill
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJudah Ari Gross is The Times of Israel's religions and Diaspora affairs correspondent.
The Israeli Air Force launches a first-of-its-kind international drone exercise on Monday, hosting pilots from five other countries, the military says.
The drill, called Blue Guardian, is scheduled to last two weeks, during which time the foreign teams will fly Hermes-450 unmanned aerial vehicles.
“The teams will simulate various scenarios, including ground troop support, reconnaissance and intelligence collections missions, and cooperation with various forces in the air,” the Israel Defense Forces says.
Teams from the United States, France, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom are taking part in the drill.
The IDF says the exercise, the largest drone-focused drill ever, has “strategic importance” because of the air force’s cooperation with foreign countries.
“The State of Israel is a pioneer in the field of UAVs. This exercise presents a platform for mutual study and growth. The exercise has national importance and influence in establishing the air force on the international level,” Israeli Air Force chief Amikam Norkin says.
The Times of Israel Community.