Abu Dhabi: The UAE Air Force and Air Defence yesterday hosted a red-carpet VIP screening of Desert Falcons, a documentary featuring the nation's role in Red Flag — the world's most challenging aerial combat training exercise.
More than 700 Air Force guests attended the screening at Emirates Palace.
Now UAE residents will be the first public audience in the world to see Desert Falcons, with its global broadcast premiere tonight at 10pm on Abu Dhabi's Al Emarat channel.
The English version will be broadcast on Abu Dhabi Sports at 10.30pm. The documentary will be shown again on June 26 during the weekly programme Al Madar on Abu Dhabi Sports.
Hosted by the US Air Force and held at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, USA, participation in Red Flag is by invitation only.
Since its first exercise in 1975, fewer than 30 countries have taken part.
From August 22 to September 5, 2009, more than 140 of the UAE Air Force's most talented fighter pilots and maintenance officers spent two weeks training in realistic aerial combat exercises conducted over the 15,000 square mile Nevada Test and Training Range north of Las Vegas. The documentary features the UAE's fighter aircraft the F16 Block 60, better known as the Desert Falcon.
Developed and built by Lockheed Martin, the Desert Falcons are the most technologically advanced F16s, and they are owned exclusively by the UAE Air Force.
Flying high: Defence display
For more information on the documentary and the UAE Air Force and Air Defence, log onto www.desertfalcons.ae
