Strafing, bombing aircraft wind up manoeuvres

Press, 10 August 1985, Page 11

Strafing, bombing aircraft wind up manoeuvres

NZPA-Reuter Cairo A display of air power featuring advanced United States planes and Egyptian aircraft built on four continents yesterday rounded off four days of joint desert warfare exercises that sparked a protest by Libya. Two giant American 852 bombers dropped 340 kg bombs in a desert area near Wadi Natroun, west of Cairo, and American fighters ran bombing and strafing raids on simulated targets. United States radarcarrying Awacs surveillance planes and attack jets from the carrier Nimitz, in the Mediterranean, also took part. Egypt fielded Frenchbuilt Mirages, Americansupplied Fighting Falcons, Soviet MiG2ls and Chinese F 7 fighters for simulated

attacks on tanks and other ground targets. The show of air power, a parachute drop, and a mock battle wound up “Bright Star 85,” the first joint exercise by the United States and Egypt, one of Washington’s chief Arab allies, since 1983. Libya, Egypt’s arch foe and western neighbour, protested to the United Nations Security Council over the exercises, calling them a threat to peace and security in the region. A Libyan letter accused the United States and Egypt of provocation and said that the manoeuvres were being performed in areas along the border with Libya. The only known casualties of "Bright Star 85” were an American pilot killed and an Egyptian military observer injured when their Cobra attack helicopter crashed near on

Wednesday. • Britain’s Armed Forces would try to ward off an attack by Soviet assassination and sabotage teams during the biggest home defence exercise since the end of World War 11, Army chiefs said yesterday. Lieutenant-General Sir John Akehurst, commander of the United Kingdom Field Army, said that Warsaw Pact observers had been invited to see part of the exercise next month and that American soldiers would take part for the first time. Speaking at Land Forces Headquarters, near Wilton, a southern England village, General Akehurst said that Soviet troops speciallytrained to sabotage key defence points and assassinate national leaders were a threat to Britain. “These units, known as Spetsnaz, or special purpose

forces, are being trained to knock out key installations in the event of a war,” he said. The Warsaw Pact had not yet replied to the invitation to attend, he said. The exercise, code-named “Brave Defender,” will mobilise 65,000 service personnel from September 2 to 13. British commandos playing the part of Soviet invaders will attack 150 key points. British troops from all services, including the newly created Home Service Force, will respond. About 1000 American soldiers will also take part. General Akehurst said that strategic planners were concerned that Britain would be inadequately defended during a conventional Soviet attack in central Europe because most of its troops would be deployed on\-£he Continent.