Photos: Egypt-Saudi ‘Piercing Arrow’ drills continue with air combat training sorties

CAIRO – 17 November 2024: Personnel from the Egyptian and Saudi armed forces have continued to carry out the joint “Piercing Arrow” drills in Egypt, with air combat training sorties on the horizon, according to Egyptian Armed Forces’ Spokesman Gharib Abdel Hafez.

The training has been ongoing for several days within the southern military region and the operational theater of the Southern Fleet in the Red Sea, as well as at several air bases in Egypt.

The training activities included the execution of practical exercises aimed at unifying combat concepts and exchanging training experiences among the participating forces, the spokesman said.

Paratroopers and Sa’aka (Thunderbolt) forces conducted assaults on vital targets, clearing them of terrorist elements. Meanwhile, special naval forces executed a coastal raid to eliminate hostile elements and gain control.

 

The participating forces also executed various conventional and unconventional shooting exercises, reflecting a high level of combat training techniques, precision, and professionalism in dealing with targets from different firing positions.

The upcoming training phases are expected to witness the execution of joint air sorties to train on managing aerial combat operations to attack enemy targets, with the participation of formations of multirole combat aircraft from both countries.

Furthermore, various maritime activities will be conducted, including planning operations for joint maritime threat response involving Egyptian and Saudi naval units.

The “Piercing Arrow” drills are part of the joint training plan of the armed forces with the armed forces from sisterly and friendly countries, the spokesman added.