Six Polish F-16s and some 80 soldiers left for the Middle East on Wednesday to attend the Israel-led "Blue Flag" multinational military drills at the Ovda air force base in the Negev desert.

The Polish military will be training alongside their Israeli, American, Italian and Jordanian peers. During the joint operations, Poland's air force personnel is to apply the combat capabilities of the F-16 multirole fighter jets in simulated air warfare, including fighting air-to-air threats and surface-to-air missiles.

"We believe this will be an interesting experience, particularly for our younger generation of pilots," says Lieutenant Colonel Artur Goławski, spokesperson for the General Command of the Polish Armed Forces.

The "Blue Flag" manoeuvres mark Poland's second joint military exercises in Israel, first held in March 2012. (aba/rk)

Source: PAP