A Bridge Across the Sky

Smruti D

The Indian Air Force carried out multiple joint exercises with other air forces throughout the year. Apart from achieving operational preparedness and boosting interoperability, strategic outreach with friendly foreign countries is one of the most important objectives behind conducting these exercises.

Rafale aircraft during Ex-Desert Knight-2021 held at Air Force Station Jodhpur

Bilateral or multilateral exercises help the forces get familiar with not only different military platforms used by the other forces but also their basic operational concepts. Consequently, these exercises help develop readiness and learn new tactics from one another. This year, the IAF exercises focussed on objectives ranging from Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations to undertaking simulated air combat operations.

Multilateral Exercises

In March this year, the IAF participated in a multilateral exercise the Desert Flag VI, which was hosted by the United Arab Emirates. This exercise was the first annual multinational exercise hosted by the UAE.

The IAF participated in this exercise with six Su-30MKI fighters, two C-17 heavy lift aircraft and one IL-78 tanker aircraft. The C-17 Globemaster provided support for induction/ de-induction of the IAF contingent. The Su-30MKI aircraft undertook long range ferry, routing direct from India to the exercise area with aerial refuelling support from IL-78 tanker.

The air forces of the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Bahrain also participated in the exercise that was held at Al-Dhafra airbase. A press statement from the ministry of defence, ahead of the exercises stated, ‘Exercising and interaction with the participating nations in a dynamic and realistic warfare environment will also contribute to strengthen international relations.’

In 2017, Israel too had hosted a multinational air force exercise wherein different countries’ air forces participated. The IAF too was a part of it. The exercise, named Blue Flag is a bi-annual multilateral exercise which aims to strengthen military cooperation among participating nations.

A 45-member strong contingent of the IAF took part in the exercise. The purpose of the exercise was to strengthen military cooperation amongst participating nations. It was first held in 2013, which included several foreign country air forces. In 2017, the participants included the United States, Poland, Italy and Greece along with India, France and Germany participating for the first time. The goal of the Blue Flag training exercise was to simulate extreme combat scenarios and coalition flights as realistically as possible.

Exercise Red Flag held by the United States Air Force (USAF) aims at realistic air-combat training for military pilots and other flight crew members from the United States and allied countries. The exercise is held multiple times a year between the