Israeli fighter jets at Red Flag in 2015 – Photo: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

The advanced training exercise kicked off Monday and will go on until August 26. It includes aerial combat and rumored to also include close-air support drills for the F-35 stealth fighter.

Israel participated in last year’s edition of the hosted at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada alongside the Jordanian, American, and Singaporean air forces; this year’s line-up includes two Muslim states neither of which has diplomatic relations with Israel.

The Israeli Defense Forces confirmed their participation in the exercise, saying in a statement the Israeli Air Force had accepted “favorably”.

“The IDF trains regularly in order to maintain operational competency and to prepare for any potential challenge,” the statement said. “However, in any exercise in which the IDF takes part, information security precautions will be taken,” it added.

The exercise will be Red Flag 16-4, meaning it is the fourth round this year. Red Flag 16-3, which took place in July, featured the debut of the F-35B joint strike fighter and also involved F-35A planes.

Red Flag, In Formation over the Dead Sea – Photo by Major Ofer

Red Flag provides “realistic” combat training in an environment designed to imitate real-time war scenarios.

Since 1975, more than 30 countries have participated directly in Red Flag exercises with other nations acting as observers.

Meanwhile, Israeli Air Force F-16 pilots are scheduled to travel to India next month for a working visit to take part in what that the air force described as a “first of its kind exercise,” Israeli daily Haaretz reported.

The visit is part of an air crew exchange between the two militaries.

Some three months ago Indian Air Force crews visited a combat squadron at a major Israeli base.