The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) is participating in the Eagle Eye 3 Drill Maneuvers between November 7 and 20 at Souda Airbase in Greece. On November 04, the RSAF group has completed its arrival on the Greek island of Crete.
The Air Force is participating in the drill with F-15 fighter jets, along with their entire air, technical and support crews, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
The Air Force group was received by Chargé d’Affaires at the Saudi Embassy Ahed bin Hamad, Commander of the Air Force Group Colonel Khalifa Daghfak Al-Enezi, and a number of officers.
Colonel Al-Enezi pointed out that the drill is an extension of the Falcon Eye drills carried out alternately in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Greece.
Last week, the participating group in the maneuvers was seen off at King Fahd Airbase in the Western Sector by Deputy Commander of the RSAF Major General Talal Al-Ghamdi (photo) who checked on the preparations and listened to a briefing by Commander of the participating group Colonel Khalifa Al-Onzi.
Major General Al-Ghamdi said: “Eagle Eye 3 Drill Maneuvers are among the promising bilateral air drills between the two countries, where their previous editions have realized success at all strategic, operational and tactical levels.”
For his part, Colonel Al-Onzi said that the Air Force is participating with several F-15 aircrafts with all their air, technical and backing up crews, noting that the maneuvers aim at enhancing cooperation between RSAF and its Greek counterpart and increasing the level of combat preparedness of RSAF to implement tasks through executing cross-border journeys, conducting operational and training tasks and exchanging military expertise.
Meanwhile, the Official Spokesperson of the Saudi Ministry of Defense Brigadier General Turki Al-Malki stated today that a Royal Saudi Air Force F-15S Fighter Jet fell as a result of a technical malfunction during a routine training mission in the King Abdulaziz Air Base training area in the Eastern Province.
The aircrew, consisting of two officers, have survived the incident after using the ejector seat. No injuries, nor ground damage were recorded.
An investigation committee has commenced its tasks to uncover the details and reasons behind this incident.”
