Ministry of Defense: The Ur 2 exercise is taking place for the first time in the Middle East.
Ministry of Defense: The Ur 2 exercise is taking place for the first time in the Middle East.
2025-04-23
The Director of the Media Directorate at the Ministry of Defense, Major General Pilot Tahseen Al-Khafaji, confirmed Tuesday, that the international strategic exercise (OR 2), which was carried out with the participation of five countries, is the first of its kind in the Middle East, noting that the Air Force is experiencing a qualitative leap in capabilities that reflects Iraq’s development in absorbing military technology thanks to the direct support of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani. Al-Khafaji stated in a statement to Al-Iraqiya News, “The Iraqi Air Force planes participated today in complex exercises in the (OR 2) exercise to formulate joint work with advanced institutions and support ground forces towards a specific goal with very precise timing and very accurate implementation.”
He added, “Today’s airstrike orders are executed in seconds and minutes, demonstrating a qualitative leap in the development, training, and performance of the air force, reflecting Iraq’s progress in absorbing technology.” He explained, “The Or 2 exercise is unique and was conducted with the participation of five countries: the Iraqi, American, Italian, French, and Jordanian air forces. This is the first time this type of exercise has taken place in the Middle East.”
Al-Khafaji explained that “the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, supports the security forces, especially the Iraqi Army and the Air Force, which is considered Iraq’s long-standing weapon and arm in protecting the security and safety of Iraq’s skies.” He pointed out that “the financial allocations and great interest of the Commander-in-Chief in developing the Iraqi Air Force have had positive effects, as demonstrated by today’s exercise.”
He continued, “With the support provided by the Commander-in-Chief and the Minister of Defense, we have the financial and human capabilities to accommodate the technology, business, and significant developments in the aviation industry.” He explained, “This has been proven after Iraq received the most sophisticated weapons, including the Air Force.”
The Director of the Ministry of Defense’s Media Directorate, Major General Pilot Tahseen Al-Khafaji, also pointed out that “the Air Force Command now possesses a number of advanced aircraft, such as F-16 aircraft from the United States of America, T-50 aircraft from South Korea, advanced surveillance and training aircraft such as the Cessna Caravan, the Kanker, advanced air surveillance aircraft CH5 and CH4 from the People’s Republic of China, and 159L aircraft for close air support from the Czech Republic.”
Al-Khafaji also explained that “this diversity of resources is a diversity in capacity building and expansion, and this underscores the importance of diversity of resources, as well as the ability to absorb the most complex weapons, prepare a suitable environment for pilots, and receive students to build pilots and engineers.”
Tuesday, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces attended the “Or 2″ exercise and affirmed the government’s efforts to build and develop the air force according to modern principles.
burathanews.com
