Issue No. 608
Home news
Previous issue
Site map
|
|
17 - 23 October 2002 Issue No. 608 Home news |
Current issue Previous issue Site map | |
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Recommend this page | ||
Keeping the peace
Military exercises in celebration of Air Force Day highlighted Egypt's capacity to protect its people and safeguard peace. Amira Ibrahim reports
On Saturday, the Egyptian air force conducted their largest exercises in 20 years. At 14 air bases located across the country a total of 120 jet fighters took to the air, engaging in an exercise in which they fired on simulated targets. The exercise theatre included a main runway, jet fighters, hangars, air defence bases, radar units and underground passages.
The event began when 24 helicopters of the Mi-8 and Mi-17 series destroyed separate targets constructed near the main runway of one air base, while four Apache helicopters launched free missiles to completely destroy the targets. As the F-4 and the F-16 fighters successfully bombed the runway with laser directed missiles, a Mirage-2000 raided air defence bases with 30mm canons.
Various aircraft successfully targeted the openings to underground passages, attesting to the skills of Egyptian Air Forces pilots. Attendees watching the exercises were surprised when a Soviet-manufactured Mig-21 that was used in the 1973 air battles appeared at the end of the exercise to secure reconnaissance planes.
"The exercise affirmed Egyptian Air Force engineers' success in upgrading old warplanes with the most advanced technologies, as well as the high-level of proficiency possessed by pilots who carried out various missions," commented air forces Commander Lieutenant General Magdi Sha'rawi.
Field-Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, who viewed the exercise accompanied by Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Hamdi Weheiba, expressed absolute confidence in the Air Forces' capacity to carry out any kind of mission, anywhere. Tantawi urged armed forces officers and soldiers to maintain a high standard of training and their fighting capabilities to ensure the safety of the Egyptian people.
"We want peace to flourish and spread throughout our region and the entire world," Tantawi said. "Yet, we keep in mind, that we won't achieve peace as we wish unless we possess the power to protect it," he added. Tantawi attributed the Air Forces units' outstanding performance in the exercises to a comprehensive development process within all branches of the armed forces.
Highlighting Egyptian Air Forces experience in many wars over a 40-year period, Lt Gen. Sha'rawi said, "Our decision to ensure that we have a strong military is supported by the hostilities we have faced. The construction of Egypt's air forces has always been subject to three main considerations: Defining the enemy, examining the available technology and weapons and our economic ability to possess them."
Sha'rawi was speaking at a press conference held on Monday at Air Forces headquarters to commemorate the 29th anniversary of the air battle known as "Al- Mansoura" that took place during the October War. About 160 jet fighters waged a battle for 53 minutes over the Nile Delta town of Mansoura. Despite the superiority of the Israeli planes and the fact that they outnumbered Egyptian aircraft, the Israeli side lost 18 before the remaining fighters dropped their bombs and fled.
Asked about the countries from which Egyptian Air Forces obtain hardware, Sha'rawi said, "Following the 1973 War, we diversified the sources of armament and began purchasing weapons from both East and West. Currently, we obtain weapons and armament systems from seven or eight friendly countries from different parts of the world, ranging from the US in the West to China in the East."
Sha'rawi said Air Force engineers have ensured the high performance of its more than 20-year-old F-16 fighters. "We have been continually upgrading their equipment, engines and communication systems in accordance with international programmes supervised by the US military."
Replying to a question about the military's extensive use of F-16 fighters, Sha'rawi said, "It remains the most appropriate plane for our forces. It is distinguished by its manoeuvrability, low fuel consumption, its full control by a single pilot, the fact that it is economical compared to other generations of fighters and our officers have considerable experiences flying the class."
|
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||
| ARCHIVES Letter from the Editor Editorial Board Subscription Advertise! |
WEEKLY ONLINE: weekly.ahram.org.eg Updated every Saturday at 11.00 GMT, 2pm local time weeklyweb@ahram.org.eg |
 Al-Ahram Organisation |
