An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent departed today to participate in exercise BRIGHT STAR-23, a biennial three-service multilateral exercise to be held at Cairo (West) Air Base, Egypt, from August 27 to September 16, 2023.
This is the first time that the IAF participates in the Ex BRIGHT STAR-23 which will also see the participation of contingents from the United States of America, Saudi Arabia, Greece and Qatar. The Indian Air Force contingent will consist of five MiG-29s, two IL-78s, two C-130s and two C-17s. Personnel from IAF Garud Special Forces, as well as those from Nos. 28, 77, 78 and 81 Squadrons, will participate in the exercise. The IAF transport aircraft will also provide airlift to approximately 150 Indian Army personnel.
The objective of the exercise is to practice planning and executing joint operations. Besides leading to the formation of ties across borders, such interactions also provide a means of fostering strategic relationships between participating nations. IAF contingents for flying exercises abroad are therefore nothing more than diplomats in flying suits.
India and Egypt had outstanding relationship and deep cooperation where the two jointly undertook the development of aircraft and aircraft engines in the 1960s and Egyptian pilot training was done by Indian counterparts. The relationship between the two civilized countries has been further strengthened with the recent visits by the head of the two countries’ air forces, the defense minister of India and the prime minister in Egypt. The two countries have also strengthened their joint training with regular exercises between their militaries.
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