Article Posted on : - Jul 27, 2010

The F-5 fighters of Iranian Air Force.

TEHRAN (BNS): Iranian Air Force is planning to stage countrywide large-scale aerial wargames beginning July 31.

The weeklong air drill, called 'Fada'eyan-e Harreem-e Vellayat', will be the second in the series, Air Force Lieutenant Commander for Operations Mohammad Alavi was quoted as saying by the FARS news agency.

Over 40 fighter aircraft, including the F-4, F-5, F-7 and Sukhoi SU-24 fighter-bombers will conduct aerial maneouvers. All the aircraft will test-fire various air-to-surface weapons during the exercise, the air force official said.

The air force also plans to conduct aerial refueling exercises. Besides, the F-7 and Su-24 fighters will carry out night bombing operations for the first time.

The country will also display its Unmanned Aerial Vehicles during the wargames.

“Air bases in Mehrabad (Tehran), Tabriz, Hamedan, Dezfoul, Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, Shiraz and Isfahan are among the important Air Force bases that will take part in the drills,” Alavi said.