A FORCE Report

From 8-22 April 2018 the Indian skies were lit up with the power and magnificence of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF’s) Gagan Shakti-2018. The IAF conducted its biggest ever exercise in three decades with a focus on real-time coordination, deployment and employment of air power in a short and intense battle scenario. During the 13-day exercise, the lAF showcased its entire war fighting machinery to validate its concept of operations and war-waging capability.

Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa interact during IAF’s exercise Gagan Shakti-2018

The exercise was conducted in two phases so that all Commands got adequate opportunity to test their preparedness. Phase-I of the exercise involved activation of Western, South Western and Southern Air Commands, with affiliated army and naval components. Phase-II of the exercise involved activation of Western, Central, Eastern and Southern Air Commands. Re-deployment for Phase-II involved relocating the forces so as to be effective at the new locations within a short span of 48 hours. This was made possible through roun