IAF and RAF pilots train over UK skies as Regev welcomes ‘important cooperation’

Israeli Ambassador Mark Regev has paid tribute to Israeli and British fighter pilots training over the skies of Lincolnshire this week, after visiting RAF Waddington on Tuesday.

Tweeting after meeting pilots taking part in Exercise Cobra Warrior at the base, he said: “This important cooperation will further strengthen our common security.”

Addressing a London audience for BICOM’s Israel election evening, Regev said he also met the local rabbi “who was smiling cheek to cheek because it was the first time he had delivered kosher food to an RAF base”.

He joked that “the Israeli Air Force people actually thought the food was rather good.”

Regev added: “It was nice to see them [the Israeli pilots]. They were very complimentary about their RAF hosts, and said it was beneficial to both sides to do these exercises together.”

Israeli military aircraft are flying over the UK in a joint exercise for the first time ever this month, as part of a three-week multi-national coordination effort with the RAF as well as German, Italian and US planes.

The five nations possess some of the most advanced fighters in the world and the RAF described the exercise as “high intensity large force tactical training” involving around 50 aircraft.

“This is the first time IAF fighter aircraft are deployed to and flying in Britain,” said Brigadier General Amnon Ein-Dar, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) head of training.. The deployment will help improve IAF readiness and capability.

“We view this exercise as the highest standard of training, an excellent opportunity for mutual learning and bolstering cooperation between partners.”

Turning to the night’s election, Regev said: “It has been a good year for Israeli democracy, because in a region where most people never get to vote, we compensated by voting twice!”