Saudi Gazette report
ABU DHABI — The Royal Saudi Air Force has concluded its participation in the Desert Flag 2025 exercise at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, following a series of joint air maneuvers conducted alongside forces from allied and partner nations.
The exercise aimed to enhance combat readiness, develop operational and technical capabilities, and strengthen integration with participating air forces through simulated combat operations in a realistic, multi-national environment.
Lieutenant Colonel Pilot Faisal Al-Marwani, commander of the Saudi air group in the drill, said the exercise provided a valuable opportunity to assess operational readiness under advanced combat scenarios.
“The goals set during the planning phase were successfully achieved,” he noted, “including raising the efficiency of air, technical, and support crews, improving mechanisms of joint operations, and testing combat capabilities under the pressure of multi-domain operations.”
During the exercise, Saudi forces carried out a variety of missions, including offensive and defensive air operations, close air support, combat search and rescue, and nighttime aerial refueling, significantly boosting the preparedness and accuracy of participating crews.
Al-Marwani also emphasized that safety protocols were strictly followed throughout the drill, from aircraft preparation and preventive maintenance to flight execution, praising the professionalism of the technical teams that ensured continuous and efficient flight operations.
He added that the Royal Saudi Air Force is finalizing its technical and administrative procedures in preparation to return to the Kingdom following a successful participation that reflects the high level of training and coordination across operational, technical, and administrative teams.
Desert Flag is one of the region’s most prominent joint air exercises, designed to enhance planning and execution capabilities in a multinational framework and promote military cooperation among partner forces, keeping pace with developments in modern air operations.
