Chile, U.S. Conclude
joint air maneuvers
Chile and the United
States on Friday
concluded their first
joint maneuvers with
F-16 fighters and other
planes in northern
Chilean city Iquique.
The drills, Willka 2007,
began on Monday with six
U.S. F-16 planes and two
KC-135s for air combat
and mid-flight refueling
exercises. The Chilean
Air Force sent some
F-16s and one F-5 to
participate in the
drills.
The objective of the
maneuvers was to
"acquire and share air
power experiences with a
common language and
procedure
standardization to
operate," said a
statement of the Chilean
Air Force.
"We have to be ready
always, and these
exercises with the
United States clearly
help," said Chilean
Defense Minister Jose
Goni who came to Iquique
and watched the
exercises.
The joint military
maneuvers were staged
just two weeks after
U.S. Secretary of
Defense Robert M. Gates
toured the South
American country, which
Gates called "an
important actor in the
international scene."
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