A contingent of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), comprising F-16 Block-52 fighter aircraft along with air and ground crew, has arrived at King Abdulaziz Air Base in Saudi Arabia to participate in the multinational aerial combat exercise Spears of Victory-2026, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The high-profile exercise brings together fighter jets and combat support elements from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, France, Italy, Greece, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, underscoring its importance as one of the region’s most complex multinational air combat drills.
Advanced Air Combat and Electronic Warfare Focus
Exercise Spears of Victory-2026 is designed to enhance interoperability, operational synergy, and mutual understanding among participating air forces, particularly in demanding operational domains such as:
- Large Force Employment (LFE)
- Night composite air operations
- Integrated Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)
- Operations in advanced electronic warfare environments
PAF pilots will operate F-16 Block-52 aircraft equipped with modern avionics and Beyond Visual Range (BVR) capabilities, flying alongside—and against—aircrew operating a wide spectrum of advanced combat platforms. The exercise provides a realistic, contested battlespace environment to validate tactics, techniques, and procedures against peer and near-peer air forces.
Demonstrating Long-Range Reach and Expeditionary Capability
For this international deployment, PAF fighter aircraft conducted a non-stop flight from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia, a move that highlights the Air Force’s long-range operational reach, air-to-air refuelling proficiency, and expeditionary capability.
Military analysts note that such deployments are increasingly important in modern air warfare, where rapid force projection and sustained operations far from home bases are critical indicators of combat readiness.
Pak-Saudi Defence Cooperation in Focus
PAF’s participation in Spears of Victory-2026 comes at a time of strengthening defence ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, following a recent defence cooperation pact aimed at expanding collaboration in training, joint exercises, defence production, and operational coordination.
The agreement reflects a shared commitment to regional security, counter-terrorism cooperation, and capacity building across air, land, and maritime domains. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia already maintain long-standing military links, with regular joint exercises and personnel exchanges, particularly in the air and ground forces.
Against this backdrop, Pakistan’s presence in a Saudi-hosted multinational exercise reinforces its role as a trusted defence partner and highlights the growing institutional depth of Pak-Saudi military relations.
Strategic Significance
Participation in Spears of Victory-2026 not only enhances PAF’s interoperability with leading global air forces but also allows it to benchmark its operational preparedness in a technology-driven, electronically contested environment.
ISPR stated that the exercise reflects PAF’s professional excellence and proven ability to operate effectively in diverse and demanding conditions, while contributing to broader regional and international military cooperation.
As air forces worldwide adapt to rapidly evolving threats, exercises like Spears of Victory-2026 serve as critical platforms for testing readiness, strengthening alliances, and reinforcing collective security frameworks in the Middle East and beyond.
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