Indian
Air Force (IAF) participated in the Exercise Red Flag 2024-2 which was held at
Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, USA from 4 to 14 June. Through this
participation IAF has once again showcased its Trans-Oceanic Reach and played a
role in furtherance of Indian Foreign Policy.
Red
Flag Alaska 24-2 (RF-A 24-2) was the second edition of this year’s Red Flag exercise
series. Ex. Red Flag is organised four times in a year by the USAF. It is known
as an advanced and most complex aerial combat training exercise in the world.
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| IAF crew with RSAF's F-15 fighter aircraft and crew |
IAF was
participated along with Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), Royal Air Force
(RAF) of the United Kingdom, Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), Luftwaffe
from Germany and the USAF. IAF
deployed its state-of-the-art Rafale fighter aircrafts and its aircrew,
technicians, engineers, controllers and other experts. Those personnel and
equipment were transported by the IAF’s C-17 Globemaster-III aircrafts.
Technicians, controllers and other personnel made possible the induction and
de-induction process for the exercise. The transatlantic ferry of Rafales for
the exercise was enabled by the IL-78 MKI Air to Air Refueller (AAR) aircrafts.
Rafales were refueled in-flight from these refuellers during that 18,000 km
long ferry.
IAF
contingent landed at the USAF’s Eielson Air Base on 29 May 24. Enroute to the
Eielson base the IAF contingent took halts in Greece and Portugal. The crew
took rest, interacted with their counterparts during their halts. That was the
part of the IAF’s diplomatic role.
The Red Flag is an air combat
exercise conducted with multiple scenarios designed to provide realistic combat
settings. A demarcation of participating forces is done for simulating the
desired environment, with the Red Force simulating air defence elements and the
Blue Force simulating the offensive composite elements. During this exercise
the Red Force was mainly constituted by the USAF Aggressor Squadron which had
F-16 and F-15 aircrafts.
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IAF's Rafale and its crew at Eielson Air Base.
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IAF’s Rafale fighter aircrafts
were participating for the first time in the Ex. Red Flag. They were operated
alongside F-16s and F-15s aircrafts of the RSAF and USAF and also A-10 aircraft
of the USAF. The missions included Beyond Visual Range combat exercise as part
of Large Force Engagements, in Offensive Counter Air and Air Defence roles. The
IAF crew were actively involves in mission planning and also assumed the role
of Mission Leaders for designated missions during the exercise.
The
Alaskan weather was very challenging for the Indian contingent. Temperatures
were touching almost
sub-zero level. In such a scenario the IAF maintenance
crew worked hard to ensure the serviceability of all participating aircraft
throughout the exercise. Indian Rafales undertook more than 100 sorties during
the exercise.
The
young crew members were included in the IAF’s crew. It was an enriching as well
as thrilling experience for them to ferry for such long distances and
undertaking Air to Air refuelling enroute.
 |
IAF's Maintenance, Technician and support crew
with C-17 Globemaster-III. |
The IAF
contingent is planned to split enroute to the home into two groups. One group will
visit Greece and second group will visit
Egypt. They will take part in bilateral
exercises there with their counterparts. All these contingents will land back
in India on 24 June 24. Till now IAF has participated thrice in the Red Flag
exercise in 2008, 2016 and 2024.
(All photos: PIB)
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