To participate in a Multi-National Aerial Combat Exercise ‘Spears of Victory-2025’, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) contingent comprising JF-17 Thunder Block-III fighter jets alongside dedicated air and ground crew has landed at King Abdul Aziz Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

For this International deployment, PAF fighters flew non-stop from home base in Pakistan to Saudi Arabia, carrying out inflight Air-to-Air refueling; showcasing long range employment capabilities of JF-17 Block-III Aircraft, the statement said.

It said during the conduct of the exercise, PAF pilots flying AESA and Extended Range BVR Equipped JF-17 Thunder will be pitched against participating Air Forces equipped with a wide variety of sophisticated Combat Aircraft.

It said the exercise is witnessing participation of fighter jets and Combat support elements from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Bahrain, France, Greece, Qatar, UAE, UK and USA.

The statement said that Royal Saudi Air Force is holding the fifth cycle of the exercise, which provides an excellent opportunity to bolster interoperability within the participating Air Forces in the backdrop of technological advancement, increasing complexity in Airpower application and shared aerial defence challenges.

It said participation of Pakistan Air Force contingent in the exercise not only highlights PAF’s commitment to regional and international cooperation but also underscores its capabilities and prowess to operate in diverse and challenging environments amongst contemporary air forces.