The skies west of Bloemfontein were a hive of military activity on Thursday when the South African army’s airborne and air-assault forces demonstrated their combat readiness at the Bloemspruit Air Force Base.
The annual Young Eagle Open Day exercise consisted of briefings, static displays and exhibitions, a pathfinder infiltration, and an airborne and air-assault demonstration.
Speaking at the event, Chief of the South African army Lieutenant General Solly Shoke said the exercise was held annually to build the airborne forces of South Africa.
He said this year’s exercise was in relation to the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
“Should anything happen, we would be ready for anything, because we prepared our forces for the World Cup,” he said.
The open day exercise follows a week-long integrated training exercise at the De Brug military training grounds outside Bloemfontein, which ended last week.
During the open day demonstration, various airborne military units and police handled a mock bus hostage situation. — Sapa