The IAF, for the first time, will take part in exercise ‘Desert Flag’ in the United Arab Emirates(UAE), starting Wednesday. The Indian pilots will test their skills with their counterparts of air forces of USA, France Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Bahrain and host UAE in the more than 20 day long multi-national exercise.
Giving details of the prestigious annual exercise, IAF officials said here on Tuesday the exercise is scheduled from March 3 to 27 at the Al-Dhafra airbase, UAE. The drill will take place in the strategically important Persian Gulf region.
The IAF is participating with six SU-30 MKI, two C-17 and one IL-78 tanker aircraft. The C-17 Globemaster will provide support for induction and de-induction of the IAF contingent.
The Su-30 MKI aircraft will undertake long range ferry, routing direct from India to the exercise area with aerial refueling support from IL-78 tanker aircraft. The aim of the exercise is to provide operational exposure to the participating forces while training them to undertake simulated air combat operations in a controlled environment. The participating forces will get an opportunity to enhance their operational capabilities along with mutual exchange of best practices.
The large-scale exercise involving diverse fighter aircraft from across the globe will provide the participating forces, including IAF, a unique opportunity to exhchange knowledge, experience, enhance operational capabilities and interoperability. Exercising and interaction with the participating nations in a dynamic and realstic warfare environment will also contribute to strengthen international relations, they said. The Indian jets will fly along with F-15 and F-16s of the US besides Rafales and Mirage-2000s of the French Air Force.
Over the last decade, IAF has regularly hosted and participated in multi-national operational exercises, wherin collaborative engagements are undertaken amongst the best air forces of the world.
Incidentally, the IAF participation comes at a time when India has forged strong ties with countries in the Gulf region. Army Chief General M M Naravane was the first chief to visit Saudi Arabia and UAE in December last year. Moreover, the UAE provided mid-air refuelling facilities to the IAF for bringing their Rafales from France over a 7,000 km journey to Ambala in September last year.