Officials: Mysterious Jets Over Philly Were Actually Saudi Arabian Aircraft

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — We’re learning more about the five planes flying in formation Monday night over the Philadelphia and South Jersey area.

A spokesperson for the FAA told KYW Newsradio on Monday that the group of jets flying in formation was a “military operation.”

philadelphia.cbslocal.com...

^Complete story there^^


Also more info here
levittownnow.com...





I didn't know where to post this, so move if appropriate.

This is a thing?
I get training excersise, but were this kinda cool with Saudi Arabia?

Strange days.

That seems... Messed up.

"Red Flag" exercises it said. Wonder who we'd call them in to help us handle? Ahem.

a reply to: Jefferton

There were Saudi ships moored at the naval base that I was stationed at in the early 1980's. We sold them the ships and trained the crews at our naval bases.

a reply to: butcherguy

Training on equipment sold to them is one thing, "exercises" suggests something else.

originally posted by: The GUT
a reply to: butcherguy

Training on equipment sold to them is one thing, "exercises" suggests something else.

They were involved in exercises while we were training them.
We have numerous aircraft from other countries like Germany operating for exercises from time to time, iirc.

hushkit

a reply to: Black_Fox

Ewww. I feel dirty. I hate the fact were allies with those barbaric assholes (government not people).

But the fact we let their military train here.... I need a shower.

a reply to: Black_Fox

The fourth Red Flag every year is traditionally heavy with foreign aircraft from the Middle East and Asia . Last year they had Israel, Pakistan, and the UAE. This year they had Saudi Arabia, Singapore brought their F-15SGs from Idaho, and F-16Cs from Arizona, along with various US units, helicopters from England, and a NATO AWACS.

The first one each year tends to see the UK and Australia send units.

a reply to: butcherguy

Indubitably B.G. But does any of it raise deeper questions is the question.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Exercises against potential invasion then? Whom and how?

originally posted by: The GUT
a reply to: Zaphod58

Exercises against potential invasion then? Whom and how?

The exercises benefit our allies as well as ourselves. They learn tactics to defeat forces that may invade their countries.

originally posted by: CriticalStinker
a reply to: Black_Fox

Ewww. I feel dirty. I hate the fact were allies with those barbaric assholes (government not people).

But the fact we let their military train here.... I need a shower.

It is all about money and power.

The fact that they are scum means nothing in the big picture.

originally posted by: butcherguy
a reply to: Jefferton

There were Saudi ships moored at the naval base that I was stationed at in the early 1980's. We sold them the ships and trained the crews at our naval bases.

I guess it just seems unsettling.

But I am far from an expert in procedures of that nature!

a reply to: butcherguy

Naturally, as of consequence, I agree. But there's that deeper question thing.

a reply to: Jefferton

I actually feel the same way.

a reply to: The GUT

No. Combat training and learning to work together. Red Flag teaches pilots how to deal with combat, and is generally considered to be tougher than actual combat.

There are usually four a year. The first and fourth are foreign heavy, the second is mixed, with foreign units occasionally participating, and the third is US exclusive, and is used to test new equipment and develop tactics.

"Red Flag" is an interesting search term too. Just sayin'.

a reply to: The GUT

They have Red Flag, Red Flag Alaska, Blue Flag in Israel, Green Flag which usually immediately follows Red Flag, and Black Flag which is a major command post exercise.

a reply to: Zaphod58

No doubt it makes military sense. There are multiple implications, however. That seems to escape or seem irrelevant to some.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Do you know the scenarios for Red Flag? Red Flag Alaska too.