ISLAMABAD: The ACES MEET 2021 exercise of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is underway, with participating US and Saudi forces engaged in multiple missions, the PAF said on Friday.
The two-week exercise kicked off at PAF’s operational air base on Monday. Its objective is to maximize the combat readiness of participating countries through near-realistic and role-oriented air-to-air combat training, with a focus on counterterrorism operations.
Saudi Arabia and the US have brought their combat aircraft and fairly large contingents of pilots and technical staff. The Royal Saudi Air Force contingent consists of 180 officials, including pilots and technicians, who arrived with several Tornado multirole combat aircraft and the Lockheed C-130 Hercules.
Around 50 officials from Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain are present as observers.
“Multinational air exercise, ‘ACES MEET 2021-1’ is in full swing at an operational base of PAF. Participating air forces are actively engaged in multiple missions across the spectrum of airpower,” PAF said in a statement.
Members of the Pakistan Air Force, Royal Saudi Air Force and US Air Force pose for a group photo during the ACES MEET 2021 exercise in Pakistan on April 2, 2021. (Photo courtesy: PAF)
“The exercise also involves synergetic employment of various assets including special forces to enhance coordination and harmony between ground elements and air component of the campaign.”
The first exercise in this multinational series was organized by PAF in 2017.
