Pakistan meets Turkey in ACES Meet
On 15 October 2021, Pakistan kicked off the two-week ACES Meet 2021-2 exercise at Mushaf air base. The ACES Meet is a series of intensive air combat exercises under the auspices of Airpower Center of Excellence (ACE).
The scenario of the ACES Meet exercise included multiple missions across the air power spectrum and offered near-realistic and role-oriented training. The Combat Commanders School (CCS), as part of the Airpower Center of Excellence, is responsible for testing the readiness of Pakistan Fiza'ya (PAF, Pakistan Air Force) squadrons.
This year's second edition saw the participation of the Türk Hava Kuvvetleri (THK, Turkish Air Force). Turkey sent Lockheed F-16C/D Fighting Falcons from 161 Filo Yarasa (Bat) based at Bandirma, located on the south coast of the Marmara Denizi (Marmara Sea).
Support for the deployment was provided via C-130 Hercules and A400M Atlas transport aircraft and a KC-135R aerial refueling aircraft.
Next to two squadrons reporting to the CCS, Mirage Squadron Sky Bolts (Mirage 3EA/5PA) and 29 Squadron Agressors (F-16A/B MLU), the PAF participated with the following units:
The very first edition of the ACES Meet exercise was held at Mushaf air base in 2017. In this year's 2021-1 edition, Al Quwwat al Jawwiya as Sa'udiya (RSAF, Royal Saudi Air Force) fighter aircraft were invited to Mushaf air base.
The Pakistan Air Force released a video of the exercise.