MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Combined air exercises in northern Chile.

Combat aircrafts from Argentina, Brazil, United States and Chile began this weekend joint strategic air exercises in the area of Iquique, northern Chile, approximately 2,000 kilometres from Santiago.

The exercise named "Salitre", according to Chilean press reports, involves at least eighty aircrafts and 600 personnel operating from Los Condores air base.

Combat planes include F-16 from the United States; F-5 from Brazil; Mirage III and V belonging to the Argentine Air Force.

Salitre 2004 has been described as a simple actions combined exercise, organized by the Chilean Air Force which simulates a low intensity conflict with air coalition operations.

The exercise is scheduled to last until October 10 with two sides, Blue (coalition forces) and Red (opponent forces).

"The purpose of the exercise is to develop cooperation and relations between air forces of the different participating countries, sharing coalition forces common experiences, operating in a low intensity air campaign with the restrictions imposed by peace time regulations", according to Chilean military sources.