Aviation News-Goose Bay for 'night strike' training

wonwinglo

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Top fighter pilots from eight air forces are in Labrador this week to learn about a proposed military exercise that would simulate combat over the area's wilderness.

Canada is pitching a night fighter training event to be held next year, with residents of Happy Valley-Goose Bay hoping the training will boost the sagging fortunes of the local air base.

Maj. Greg Shepherd, who is leading the night-strike program, said Labrador's wilderness is a draw for military from other nations.

They can use some of the very, sophisticated equipment that they'll be using in battle, in an environment that isn't contaminated with a lot of radio signals and TV signals and cellphone signals. The night-strike exercise would involve a mock air war over the vast training areas of Labrador and eastern Quebec. Pilots would test their night bombing skills while dodging Canadian CF-18s and simulated attacks from the ground.

Top guns from countries as far away as Greece and Singapore have come this week to 5 Wing Goose Bay, as have representatives from Great Britain and the

Netherlands, which used to maintain a regular presence at the base.

The gradual withdrawal of foreign flyers over the last decade has put the future of the base in jeopardy.

The main purpose of the visit is to see where Goose Bay is, and possibly go with the exercise next year.

However, the Dutch are still heavily involved in the Afghanistan conflict. As with other countries, the Netherlands cannot yet sign up for the night-strike exercise.

This week's promotion attracted a possible new customer, the United States.

They are really glad to be there, just to improve how we work with our allies, It's a great joint training opportunity.
 
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