Eagle Arena
After work-ups, CAPE ST. GEORGE departed for her second deployment on June 10, 1998. As EISENHOWER Battle Group Air Defense Commander, CAPE ST. GEORGE was responsible for the theater air and missile defense of the battle group. CAPE ST. GEORGE spent the first half of the deployment in the Mediterranean Sea and participated in Operation DELIBERATE FORGE, enforcing the no-fly zone over Bosnia and serving as Adriatic Sea "Redcrown." While in the Mediterranean, CAPE ST. GEORGE also participated in several joint and multinational exercises, including SHAREM 125, MATADOR 98, and EAGLE ARENA.
In August 1998 Egyptian warplanes and US navy jet fighters conducted a four-day joint exercise code-named "Eagle Arena '98", over the eastern Mediterranean. The exercise brought together about 200 men from the Egyptian air force and 5,000 from the US navy. The Egyptian jet fighters included F-16s, F-4s, Mirages and MIG-21s. Helicopters and early warning E2C planes also took part in the manoeuvres. The US forces were part of the Navy Forces Central Command [NAVCENT] Carrier Air Wing 17, the source said. Also taking part was the aircraft carrier Dwight Eisenhower which had advanced F-18, F-14, EA-6B and S-3 warplanes on board. The exercise featured air combat training, overland strike operations, sea and air defence exercises and night overland strike operations.
The Eagle Arena air exercise with Egypt, and also with Marines doing the ground spotting, allowed the US to use the good ranges in Egypt, while also giving the US access to this area and better understanding between the countries.
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