The Polish Air Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Jan Śliwka, visited Israel where he flew in the “Blue-Flag” exercise. – We have a strategic relationship that is based on acquisitions, training and knowledge sharing – said the chief of Poland’s air forces.
During his visit, Gen. Śliwka flew alongside the “Knights of the Orange Tail” Squadron which is leading the biggest exercise in the history of the IAF, toured Hatzerim Airbase and met with the IAF Commander, Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel.
“Our goal is simply to fly”, said the Polish Air Force Commander, after returning from the “Blue-Flag” training exercise. “This is the second time they are conducting the ‘Blue-Flag’ training exercise, the scenarios of the current exercise have improved and the ‘Ouvda’ Airbase has given us good infrastructure for optimal practice. We are learning from each other and gaining shared experiences in addition to experiencing Israeli culture”, added Gen. Śliwka.
Cooperation between the IAF and its Polish counterpart has strengthened significantly, with 2015 being a record year for the close collaboration. This past May the IAF commander Maj. Gen Amir Eshel visited the Polish Air Force. In the end of August the IAF took part in the “Radom Air Show” in Poland as the Polish Air Force’s guest. “The Polish Air Force collaborates with the Israeli Air Force in many fields”, said Gen. Śliwka. “There is a great deal of similarity between the Forces, and we learn a lot from the Israeli pilots, especially in cooperative training exercises like the ‘Blue-Flag’”, he added.
“In the last few years, the Polish Air Force has been growing closer to the Western countries”, said Colonel G, the IDF attaché in Poland and an IAF pilot. “Israel attributes great importance to its relationship with Poland – a strategic relationship that rest on and are built on various issues, such as purchases, industry development, collaborative training, and sharing of knowledge. Our participation in the Radom Air Show, alongside the Polish Air Force’s participation in the “Blue-Flag” and the IAF commander’s visit to Poland, support this strategic effort”, the Colonel concluded.