Exercise Bright Star 2023: IAF Contingent In Egypt To Participate

To further strengthen global defence cooperation, an Indian Air Force contingent has reached Egypt on 28 August 2023 to participate in 'Exercise Bright Star-23'. 

For the first time, the Indian Air Force and the Armed Forces are going to be a part of the tri-services exercise this time.

• The Indian Air Force contingent is going to be a part of this exercise for the first time. About 34 countries of the world are participating in it.
• Exercise Bright Star 2023 is the largest multinational tri-services exercise in the Middle East and North African region.

Objective of the exercise:

• The aim of the exercise in Egypt is to counter contemporary threats and enhance interoperability among the participating nations.

There will be three weeks of manoeuvres:

• The Ministry of Defense informed through a press release that the Indian Air Force contingent will participate in the biennial multilateral tri-services exercise at Cairo (West) Air Base, which began on 27 August and will end on 16 September 2023.

There will be manoeuvres of 34 countries:

• For the first time, the Indian Air Force will be involved in 'X Bright Star-23', in which air force contingents from the US, Saudi Arabia, Greece and Qatar are also participating.
• It is noteworthy that the Indian Air Force contingent includes 5 MiG-29, 2 IL-78, two C-130 and two C-17 aircraft. Personnel from No. 28, 77, 78 and 81 Squadrons of the Indian Air Force along with Garuda Special Forces personnel will also participate in the exercise.

Global defence cooperation will get strength:

• The purpose of IAF's participation is not just to promote global defence cooperation, but to plan for joint operations. A press release from the Ministry of Defense said that apart from promoting strong bonding between air warriors beyond borders, the exercise will also strengthen strategic ties with other countries involved.

India has very old and strong relations with Egypt:

• The relationship and cooperation between India and Egypt is very deep. The two countries jointly developed aero-engines and aircraft in the 1960s and trained Egyptian pilots by their Indian counterparts.
• Relations have been further strengthened by meetings between the Air Force Chiefs of the two countries, the Indian Defense Minister and the Prime Minister during their recent visits to Egypt. Both countries have also increased their joint training with regular exercises between their armed forces.

Egypt:

• Capital: Cairo
• Currency: Egyptian pound
• President: Abdel Fattah al-Sisi
• Prime Minister: Mustafa Madbouli