{"id":43236,"date":"2021-11-03T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-03T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2021\/11\/03\/blue-flag-exercise-has-israels-enemies-seeing-red\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:33:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:33:51","slug":"blue-flag-exercise-has-israels-enemies-seeing-red","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2021\/11\/03\/blue-flag-exercise-has-israels-enemies-seeing-red\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue Flag exercise has Israel\u2019s enemies seeing red"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Israel flexed its military and political muscle last month, hosting its largest and most advanced air force exercise<\/a> ever. The Blue Flag 2021 exercise included dozens of fighter aircraft from at least eight major countries<\/a> and a landmark visit<\/a> from the chief of the United Arab Emirates Air Force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exercise provided flight crews an opportunity to share best practices, improve interoperability, and refine the integration of fourth- and fifth-generation fighter aircraft operations. Much to the chagrin of those who seek to delegitimize, isolate and attack Israel, the exercise also demonstrated growing international respect for Israel as a regional leader and military power with deep operational experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States all sent fighter aircraft and personnel to Israel to participate in Blue Flag 2021. Participating aircraft included Israeli F-35Is, F-15Ds and F-16Cs; French Rafales; U.K. Typhoons; Italian F-35s and G550 early warning aircraft; German Typhoons; Greek F-16s; and Indian Mirage 2000s. The United States had wanted to send F-35A aircraft in addition to the F-16C aircraft that participated, but couldn\u2019t due to scheduling challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Blue Flag 21 participants fly together after the exercise kicked off at Uvda Air Base, Israel, on Oct. 17, 2021. (Courtesy of the Israeli Air Force)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In total, an estimated 1,500 service members participated. Flight crews honed their air-to-air and air-to-ground skills, and practiced suppressing enemy air defenses, going up against Israeli F-16Cs from the 115th Aggressor Squadron, which modeled the capabilities and tactics of potential adversaries. These aggressor aircraft were augmented by unmanned aerial systems and helicopters as well as a Patriot battery simulating an enemy surface-to-air missile threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue Flag 2021<\/a> marked a number of historic firsts. The exercise featured the first French Rafale fighter squadron in Israel, the first Indian Mirage fighter squadron in Israel and the first British fighter squadron in Israel since the country was established in 1948.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The participation of France, the United Kingdom and India in Blue Flag 2021 suggests each government saw practical operational benefits from sending crews and aircraft to the Israeli exercise, and was happy to signal increased diplomatic support for the state of Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This growing international recognition of Jerusalem\u2019s role as a source of regional leadership and stability must be disappointing for the Islamic Republic of Iran<\/a> and its terrorist proxies<\/a>, who seek to attack and even destroy the state of Israel. It must also be quite frustrating for those elsewhere who seek to delegitimize<\/a> and isolate Jerusalem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the efforts of Israel\u2019s adversaries, Jerusalem now fields its most capable military ever and is more diplomatically integrated in the region than it has been since Israel\u2019s founding. Recognizing that fact, the Pentagon moved Israel<\/a> this year from U.S. European Command\u2019s area of responsibility to that of U.S. Central Command, which includes the Middle East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel\u2019s growing regional integration was demonstrated by the Blue Flag 2021 exercise\u2019s most important first: the visit by UAE Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Nasser Mohammed al-Alawi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Elianny Rodriguez tests communication equipment in pilots\u2019 helmets during Blue Flag 21 on Oct. 24, 2021. (Tech. Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman\/U.S. Air Force)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Israel and the United Arab Emirates, along with Bahrain, signed the Abraham Accords in 2020, codifying normal relations and catalyzing growing cooperation<\/a> in a number of economic<\/a>, scientific and social fields. Israel-UAE cooperation increasingly also includes the security sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A major reason for this growing cooperation is the fact that Iran continues to export terrorism that targets Israelis, Americans and Arabs alike, while inching toward a nuclear weapon capability that will endanger them all. This is incentivizing an increasingly unified and capable American, Israeli and Arab military coalition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That dynamic was on full display on Oct. 30 in a separate development when aircraft from Israel<\/a>, Bahrain<\/a>, Egypt<\/a> and Saudi Arabia<\/a> (at different times) accompanied a U.S. B-1B strategic bomber in its flight around the Arabian Peninsula. Riyadh\u2019s willingness to participate<\/a> for a second time this year in a multilateral patrol mission involving Israel is worth noting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The United States, Israel and their Arab partners, however, should not be satisfied with this progress. They should look for additional opportunities to deepen mutually beneficial security cooperation. This cooperation strengthens the readiness of each military, improves their ability to operate together and sends a positive deterrent message to Tehran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that the respective militaries are already moving that direction. The Blue Flag exercise represents a \u201cstepping-stone toward regional and international cooperation,\u201d Israeli Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin said last month<\/a>. There are several immediate opportunities the United States and our Middle Eastern partners should not miss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Terrorist threats to shipping and offshore energy infrastructure in the Middle East are growing. Israeli and Emirati ships have been attacked<\/a>. Meanwhile, with Iran\u2019s help, Hezbollah has armed itself with a variety of weapons designed to attack maritime targets, and Hamas tried to target gas installations<\/a> off the Israeli coast during the Gaza conflict in May.<\/p>\n\n\n\t