Saif Sareea

Saif Sareea, or Swift Sword, was the first in a series of three joint military exercises held between Oman and the United Kingdom. The exercise was held between 15 November and 8 December 1986.[1] Nearly 5,000 personnel from the UK were deployed for the exercise. Units that took part from the British Army included elements of 5 Airborne Brigade and 3 Commando Brigade. It also involved ships from the Royal Navy task group, and a detachment of Tornado GR1 and FR3 aircraft and air transport resources from the Royal Air Force. Exercise Saif Sareea was the largest deployment to the middle east in a single operation by the UK since the Suez Crisis.[2][3]

The joint headquarters for the exercise was at RAFO Masirah airbase, on Masirah Island. The Exercise involved a demonstration parachute drop by 5 Airborne on a desert airstrip, with air support from the Tornado aircraft, and Omani Hunter aircraft forming the opposing force.[4]

References
  1. Hansard. HC Deb 15 December 1986 vol 107 cc371-2W. 15 December 1986. Retrieved 24 December 2018.CS1 maint: location (link)
  2. Hansard. HC Deb 30 January 1986 vol 90 cc1115-85. 30 January 1986. Retrieved 24 December 2018.CS1 maint: location (link)
  3. Alford, Johnathan; Hunt, Kenneth (2015). Europe in the Western Alliance. Springer. p. 133. ISBN 134909837X. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  4. Gledhill, David (17 May 2017). Tornado F3 in Focus: A Navigator's Eye on Britain's Last Interceptor. Fonthill Media. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
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