Royal Saudi Air Forces (RSAF) and US Air Forces (USAF) concluded last week Sunday Dragon joint exercise which witnessed many joint combat “scenarios” such as day and night sorties to address threats.
The joint exercise maneuvers started in Taif on 27 February, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
These exercises aim to refine expertise, raise the level of joint combat readiness and deepen the bonds of cooperation between the Saudi forces and the US forces to reach the deterrence force required for any possible attack threatening the security and safety of the region.
The exercises also aim at training on tactical interception, combat training, air counterattack, and suppressing enemy's air defenses.
The exercises further contribute to achieving compatibility and operational integration, as part of the continuing joint cooperation between the two air forces to maintain security and stability in the region.
Earlier this year, the third joint rehearsal of military maneuvers between the Royal Saudi Air Force and the US Air Force kicked off on 29 January 2021, while other naval exercises for the Royal Saudi Navy concluded on 28 January.
The Saudi Ministry of Defense said in a statement that the Air Force participated in the exercise with its F-15SA fighters, while the US forces partook with the B-52 strategic bomber and F-16 fighter jets.
According to the statement, the exercise seeks to raise the highest levels of readiness and contribute to reaching operational integration with the aim to unify joint action to achieve security and peace.
Saudi Arabia attaches great importance to its naval exercises to secure waterways in the region.
Brigadier General Awad Al-Enezi, Director of the exercise, noted that the participating vessels executed a number of marine formations, as well as boarding and searching ships, reconnaissance operations and port training and defense, in addition to drone operations and shooting air and surface enemy targets with live ammunition.
The naval exercise also featured a number of combat scenarios, such as dealing with hostile targets with live ammunition and operations of maritime rescue and protection of ports.
Enezi praised the participants for their “professionalism and high readiness,” saying the joint exercise brought about “many positive results that reflect the importance of continuous training.”
