Joint military drill 'Magic Carpet' concludes in Oman

Energy Saturday 21/September/2019 21:50 PM
By: Times News Service

Muscat: A joint military exercise between the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) and the British Royal Air Force, titled ‘Magic Carpet,’ has concluded.
Lieutenant Colonel Marhoon Al Naabi of the Royal Air Force of Oman said that the two-week exercise included attack, defence, and support manoeuvres, and proved the capabilities of both sides.
Al Naabi said: “This joint training exercise helped ensure the effectiveness of pilots. The pilots involved exchanged their expertise in joint combat flight manoeuvres, including many missions involving joint attack and defence, short-distance support, as well as search and rescue in a combat scenario. This involved combat airplanes, vertical planes, and logistics and reconnaissance aircraft.
“It was executed by the Royal Air Force of Oman and the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force, with support from Royal Navy of Oman and the Sultan’s Special Forces, in addition to the United States Air Force,” he added.
A statement by the Morale Guidance Centre, the media centre belonging to the Omani Ministry of Defence, read: “The joint air exercise Magic Carpet concluded.”
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According to the Morale Guidance Centre, the exercise allowed exchange of experiences between the two countries and proved the effectiveness of all parties involved.
Exercise Magic Carpet exemplified the sublimity of the training plans and created a propitious environment for the exchange of expertise.
“It was a real translation of the operational capabilities and readiness as well,” the statement added.
An officer from the Royal Air Force in the UK said that the drill allowed them to go through multiple training missions.