The Exercise Red Flag is a multinational air exercise, originally conceived in 1975 by USAF to provide operational exposure and mutual exchange of Op capability of friendly Air Forces. Red Flag – Alaska is a successor to the previous COPE THUNDER exercise series in the Western Pacific and Alaska.
The exercise provides an opportunity to practice and refine their skills for real combat situations to the pilots from the US, NATO and other allied forces. This includes the use of enemy hardware and live ammunition for bombing exercises within the Nellis complex.
- The IAF contingent along with the aircraft departed from Jamnagar on April 3 2016 for Eielson Air Force Base Alaska in USA.
- IAF is participating in the exercise following an invitation from the US Air Force (USAF). The exercise is scheduled to commence from April 28 to May 13.
- The exercise will see participation of 12 IAF aircraft including the Russian origin Su30 MKI, deep penetration Jaguars, two C17 transport planes and two mid-air refuellers IL 78.
- Before reaching Alaska, the IAF aircraft will travel through Bahrain, Egypt, France, Portugal and Canada.
- It will also see over 150 IAF personnel in action, who will undergo some training before being sent to Alaska. According to an estimate, it will cost India over 100 crore rupees.
- The contingent is led by Group Captain H Assudani. They would demonstrate IAF’s ability to project air power in transcontinental deployment of a task force comprising Su-30 MKI, Jaguars, IL-78 tankers and C-17 strategic airlift aircraft.
- During the exercise, Su-30 MKI and Jaguars along with USAF fighters will be operating in composite formations under various near realistic scenarios.
- The air exercise, from 28 April to 13 May, is seen as a complex and advanced network-centric operation—the toughest test for flying machines and men.
- India has desisted from taking its advanced aerial early warning aircraft, Phalcon AWACS, for overseas exercises.
- This is the second time that India is participating in such an exercise after 2008. Due to high cost of participation, IAF decided to take part in the exercise once in every five year. Earlier, the participation in the exercise was scheduled in 2013 but the plan was cancelled by the US following budget cuts.
- During the Red Flag exercise held at the Nellis Air Force Base in 2008, the IAF contingent was led by Group Captain D Chaudhury.
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