PAF’s air exercise with Turkish Air Force concludes

International Air Exercise Indus Viper-II conducted between Pakistan Air Force and Turkish Air Force (TuAF) concluded at an operational air base of PAF Sunday.

A PAF press release said Chief of Operations, TuAF, Maj-Gen Ares Mehmat, was the chief guest at the closing ceremony. Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Operations), PAF Air Marshal Waseemuddin and the ambassador of Turkey, M. Babur Hizlan, were also present.

The Turkish Air Force contingent comprising five F-16s C&D (Fighting Falcons), combat pilots and ground technical crew participated in the air exercise, conducted from March 4 to 16. Pakistan Air Force emphasises on the combat training of its air and ground crew and regularly undertakes air exercises with allied air forces.

These exercises not only play a vital role in honing the combat skills of PAF air crew but also enable them to learn the latest air power employment strategies in complex theatres of warfare, the PAF press release added.

It said the prime objective of the exercise is to excel in the air combat capability with focus on air power employment in any future conflict. PAF has been participating in number of international air exercises with some of the best air forces of the world, including United States Air Force (USAF), Italian Air Force, Turkish Air Force (TuAF) and air forces of other allied countries.