Article Posted on : - Dec 22, 2009

F-22 Raptors fly in formation during the multilateral war game. Image credit: USAF

VIRGINIA (BNS): The US Air Force has concluded a five-week long multilateral exercise with five other countries in the Middle East during which it deployed its F-22 fighters in the desert region for the first time.

Over 300 USAF personnel along with air crews from France, Jordan, Pakistan and UK took part in simulated air battles and advanced tactical leadership training.

The event began in November and simulated a �large force employment,� and gave participating nations a chance to develop solutions to potential issues that might occur during contingency operations, the US Air Force said.

During the training exercise, the USAF completed the first deployment of its F-22 Raptor fighters in the region to test the aircraft under harsh desert conditions.

The fifth-generation fighters and their crews were in the area as part of the multinational exercise. The aircraft did not directly take part in the exercise, and flew alongside crews from the participating nations in training sorties.

The F-22s were previously deployed at the Kadena Air Base, Japan, and Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, for exercises in the Pacific, the USAF said.