A contingent of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) comprising of F-16s Block 52 fighter aircraft alongside its air and ground crew has reached King Abdulaziz Airbase in the Saudi Arabia to participate in the multinational aerial combat exercise spare of victory 2026, the military informed in a statement on Monday.
According to the statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations ISPR, the exercise will include fighter jets and combat support elements from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, France, Italy, Greece, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
“Pakistan Air Force contingent comprising F-16 Block-52 fighter aircraft, alongside dedicated air and ground crew, has arrived at King Abdulaziz Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to participate in the multinational aerial combat Exercise Spears of Victory-2026,” a PAF spokesperson said in a statement.
PAF statement further added that the PAF pilots flying F-16 Block 52 aircraft equipped with modern avionics and beyond visual range capabilities would be pitched against aircrew of participating air forces operating a wide array of sophisticated combat aircraft during the exercises. Saudi Arabia remains one of Pakistan’s closest defence and security partners in the Middle East with regular engagement across air, land and naval domains. Pakistan last year signed a defence pact with Saudi Arabia as well.
Read more: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey Draft Trilateral Defence Pact Amid Rising Regional Tensions
The exercise offers a platform to enhance the interoperability, operational synergy, mutual understanding and capacity building among participating air forces, particularly in large force employment, night composite air operations, integrated ISR and operations in advanced electronic warfare environments.
The Pakistan is set to enhance its interoperability with the other air forces and validate its operational preparedness. For this international deployment, PAF fighter aircraft undertook a nonstop flight from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia, which demonstrated their operational reach and expeditionary capabilities. During the exercise, PAF pilots flying advanced F-16 aircraft equipped with modern avionics and beyond visual range capabilities will compete against a wide array of other combat aircraft.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have prepared a draft trilateral defence agreement following nearly a year of deliberations, Pakistan’s Minister for Defence Production Raza Hayat Harraj said, signalling closer security coordination among the three regional powers amid heightened regional volatility.
