<p class="title">A 45-member Indian Air Force contingent on Tuesday left for Israel in a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft to participate in the multilateral Blue Flag air exercise, marking a new high in the Indo-Isreal relations.</p>.<p class="bodytext">This would be India's first participation in a military war game in Israel, which is now one of the biggest suppliers of military hardware in the Indian market.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first Indian prime minister to visit the Jewish nation in July.</p>.<p class="bodytext">To be held at Uvda Air Force Base between November 2-16, Blue Flag-2017 is a complex air exercise involving flying forces from eight nations, including the hosts.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"This is the first time the IAF is operating with the Israeli AF in a multilateral exercise setting. The exercise gives the opportunity to the IAF to share and learn best practices with some of the best professionals from other air forces," said a defence ministry official.</p>.<p class="bodytext">IAF's Garud commandos are part of the team, which is being led by Group Captain Maluk Singh.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Besides India, other participants in the Blue Flag 2017 are USA, Greece, Poland, France, Germany and Italy.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Close to 100 aircraft and hundreds of air warriors and support crews from these nations will gather at the Israeli air base for the two-week drill that aims at honing the type of planning, targeting and coordinated command and control demanded by coalitions operating in high-threat theatres.</p>.<p class="bodytext">India, France, Germany and Italy are the new entrants to the once-in-two-years multilateral exercise that began in 2013. Representatives from nearly 40 nations would be present as observers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Meanwhile, the Israeli Army Chief is touring Indian in an official visit to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two militaries.</p>
<p class="title">A 45-member Indian Air Force contingent on Tuesday left for Israel in a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft to participate in the multilateral Blue Flag air exercise, marking a new high in the Indo-Isreal relations.</p>.<p class="bodytext">This would be India's first participation in a military war game in Israel, which is now one of the biggest suppliers of military hardware in the Indian market.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first Indian prime minister to visit the Jewish nation in July.</p>.<p class="bodytext">To be held at Uvda Air Force Base between November 2-16, Blue Flag-2017 is a complex air exercise involving flying forces from eight nations, including the hosts.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"This is the first time the IAF is operating with the Israeli AF in a multilateral exercise setting. The exercise gives the opportunity to the IAF to share and learn best practices with some of the best professionals from other air forces," said a defence ministry official.</p>.<p class="bodytext">IAF's Garud commandos are part of the team, which is being led by Group Captain Maluk Singh.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Besides India, other participants in the Blue Flag 2017 are USA, Greece, Poland, France, Germany and Italy.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Close to 100 aircraft and hundreds of air warriors and support crews from these nations will gather at the Israeli air base for the two-week drill that aims at honing the type of planning, targeting and coordinated command and control demanded by coalitions operating in high-threat theatres.</p>.<p class="bodytext">India, France, Germany and Italy are the new entrants to the once-in-two-years multilateral exercise that began in 2013. Representatives from nearly 40 nations would be present as observers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Meanwhile, the Israeli Army Chief is touring Indian in an official visit to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two militaries.</p>
