The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) officially commenced the multinational Spears of Victory 2026 exercise on 18 January 2026. Hosted at the Air Warfare Centre in the Eastern Sector, this edition marks a strategic evolution by introducing a dedicated Multi-Domain Joint Operations phase. This new component bridges the gap between aerial platforms and naval electronic warfare systems, reflecting a global shift towards integrated command and control in contested electromagnetic environments.
The exercise, concluding on 5 February, includes forces from the United Kingdom, the United States, Greece, France, and various GCC states. By integrating the RSAF with the Royal Saudi Navy, the Ministry of National Guard, and the Presidency of State Security, the drills aim to refine the synchronisation of kinetic airpower with non-kinetic maritime electronic countermeasures.
According to reports from defence observers, the exercise serves as a critical testbed for enhancing combat readiness. Regional sources, including Asharq Al-Awsat, note that the training environment has been specifically upgraded to simulate the complexities of modern electronic warfare.
From an Asia-Pacific perspective, the exercise offers a vital venue for cross-regional interoperability. Pakistan remains a key participant, deploying JF-17 Thunder and F-16 aircraft to test capabilities against Western platforms like the Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon. For Asia-Pacific nations, these drills provide a blueprint for managing maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, where the convergence of sea-lane protection and air superiority is paramount.
The sophisticated nature of the drills highlights significant investment in the Air Warfare Centre. Recent facility enhancements in the Eastern Sector were estimated at roughly SAR 2.5 billion (US$666 million) to ensure the training environment can support the high-bandwidth requirements of modern sensor fusion and multi-domain data links.
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