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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20050627.PLANES27/BNPrint/theglobeandmail/
Israeli pilots practise bombing in Alberta
By BOB REGULY
Monday, June 27, 2005
Updated at 9:48 PM EDT
Special to The Globe and Mail
Israeli warplanes are practising for precision bombing missions at a Canadian air force range in Northern Alberta.
Ten F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter-bombers of the Israeli Air Force participated in Exercise Maple Flag, which ran until last Friday at Cold Lake, and stayed for some extra training. The U.S.-supplied Israeli aircraft arrived with an Israeli Boeing 707 aerial tanker for refuelling.
"Israel arrived two weeks early and is staying a few extra weeks to take advantage of Cold Lake Air Weapons Range, one of the world's largest unrestricted air spaces," said Lieutenant Sonia Connock, public affairs officer for Maple Flag. She said Israel was invited as a "friend and ally" for its first participation in the exercise, held annually since 1987. For tiny Israel, such free-ranging space as Canada offers is unavailable elsewhere.
The 11,600-square-kilometre range north of Edmonton has 640 individual targets, including seven mock airfields and 100 target complexes with missile launchers, radar and command and control sites.
In addition to Israel, other countries are training together in the exercise: Canada, the United States, Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden, plus a NATO AWACS (for Airborne Early Warning and Control System) contingent.
"We bring in different countries to practise working together," Lt. Connock said. "This is not to suggest that Canada is planning or practising for a particular event. The countries gain some experience in flying coalition groups."
The United States has been putting pressure on Iran to abandon its nuclear facilities before it develops an atomic bomb. In 1981, Israel had pre-empted Iraq's threat to build a nuclear bomb with an air strike on that country's Osirak nuclear reactor. A similar attack on Iran, farther away, would require aerial refuelling if F-16s were used.
In addition to the participants bringing their own fighter-bombers and transports, seven other countries sent military ground observers: Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Greece, Singapore, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The latter two Arab countries are U.S. allies. Canada is also said to maintain an officially secret air base in Qatar.
© Copyright 2005 Bell Globemedia Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
I wonder if anyone has thought about pitching CFB Goosebay to the Israelis?
Israeli pilots practise bombing in Alberta
By BOB REGULY
Monday, June 27, 2005
Updated at 9:48 PM EDT
Special to The Globe and Mail
Israeli warplanes are practising for precision bombing missions at a Canadian air force range in Northern Alberta.
Ten F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter-bombers of the Israeli Air Force participated in Exercise Maple Flag, which ran until last Friday at Cold Lake, and stayed for some extra training. The U.S.-supplied Israeli aircraft arrived with an Israeli Boeing 707 aerial tanker for refuelling.
"Israel arrived two weeks early and is staying a few extra weeks to take advantage of Cold Lake Air Weapons Range, one of the world's largest unrestricted air spaces," said Lieutenant Sonia Connock, public affairs officer for Maple Flag. She said Israel was invited as a "friend and ally" for its first participation in the exercise, held annually since 1987. For tiny Israel, such free-ranging space as Canada offers is unavailable elsewhere.
The 11,600-square-kilometre range north of Edmonton has 640 individual targets, including seven mock airfields and 100 target complexes with missile launchers, radar and command and control sites.
In addition to Israel, other countries are training together in the exercise: Canada, the United States, Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden, plus a NATO AWACS (for Airborne Early Warning and Control System) contingent.
"We bring in different countries to practise working together," Lt. Connock said. "This is not to suggest that Canada is planning or practising for a particular event. The countries gain some experience in flying coalition groups."
The United States has been putting pressure on Iran to abandon its nuclear facilities before it develops an atomic bomb. In 1981, Israel had pre-empted Iraq's threat to build a nuclear bomb with an air strike on that country's Osirak nuclear reactor. A similar attack on Iran, farther away, would require aerial refuelling if F-16s were used.
In addition to the participants bringing their own fighter-bombers and transports, seven other countries sent military ground observers: Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Greece, Singapore, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The latter two Arab countries are U.S. allies. Canada is also said to maintain an officially secret air base in Qatar.
© Copyright 2005 Bell Globemedia Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
I wonder if anyone has thought about pitching CFB Goosebay to the Israelis?
