Adriatic Sword 06

A common exercise of the Croatian Air Force and the USAF named Adriatic Sword 06 was carried out in the air space above Istria from 18 to 21 April. It is a continuation of all past exercises with the USAF and an excellent preparation for our young pilots as well as raising their training standard on the highest level. It is really about training pilots of the CAiF's fighters for using exercise procedures of air combat and standard operating procedures in control and protection of the air space. Another objective of the exercise was to improve interoperability with pilots of the USAF in execution of flying missions and assessment of the qualification of the participants' strength. Besides members of the 91st and 92nd air base and pilots of the 21st and 22nd fighting squad, members of the Air Control and Guidance Brigade and Special Actions Battalion also took part in the exercise. American participants came from the 510th combat squad in Aviano.
Theoretical preparations and exercise-training flights were executed out before the exercise and simulation of the air combat of our MIGs and American F-16 took place on 20 April. Croatian pilots flew sorties in pairs from the airport in Pula and American pilots from their parent base in Aviano. Given that their air encounters and other activities of the exercise were carried out somewhere in the backlands of Istria, journalist could see what really happened during the exercise only on computer screens and on photographs our pilots took during flights and air activities. Upon entering the Croatian air space, F-16 pair would separate and flew to a determined area where Croatian MIGs intercepted them and had an offensive or defensive role, depending on the exercise plan. Air combat is otherwise a culmination of the flying training of the fighters' pilots; it is the most demanding one and everything what happened in this exercise was entirely executed in line with NATO standards. That was confirmed after the exercise by representatives of the American and Croatian side. Commander of the CAiF, Major General Viktor Koprivnjak, emphasized that this was a continuation of the past good cooperation with the USAF. Such exercises also provide an opportunity for mutual learning and a special experience for our young pilots who took part in the exercise. Major Brian Grill emphasized that he had privilege of taking part in the exercise and said that such opportunities of common flights with other types of aircraft are good because one can see all advantages and disadvantages of their aircraft. He concluded that our pilots are great enthusiasts, excellently prepared and real professionals.