CANBERRA, Oct. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Australia's aircraft and support personnel will leave for the United States later this week to participate in an air combat exercise.

    The contingent, including four F-111 strike bombers, six F/A-18Hornet fighters and 250 aircrew and support personnel, will travelto Nellis Air Force Base in US state of Nevada, an air combat training facility.

    The two-week exercise, with flying beginning on Saturday, will involve experienced aircrews, electronic warfare, tactical transport, fighter escort, airborne warning and refueling missionsagainst dedicated fighter and missile defenses, according to RoyalAustralian Air Force Captain (RAAF) Air Combat Group Captain Bill Henman, commander of the contingent.

    He said it is "a great opportunity for Air Combat Group and will be a major milestone in the training of our air combat aviators."

    The exercise "also provides invaluable training for our logistics and maintenance personnel as they are able to practice deploying to another country and working together with other Air Forces," he said in a statement.

    This will be the first time for a combined RAAF Air Combat Group, including Hornets and F-111s, to be deployed abroad. Enditem