The Indian Air Force (IAF) played a pivotal role in the highly impactful Exercise Red Flag 2024 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, held from June 4 to June 14. It marked the second edition of Ex Red Flag 2024, an advanced aerial combat training exercise conducted quarterly by the US Air Force. The exercise witnessed active participation from the Indian Air Force, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), the Royal Air Force (RAF) of the United Kingdom, the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), the German Luftwaffe, and the US Air Force (USAF).
The IAF contingent participated with the Rafale aircraft and personnel comprising aircrew, technicians, engineers, controllers, and subject matter experts. The IL-78 Air to Air Refuellers (AAR) enabled the transatlantic ferry of Rafale fighter aircraft, while the C-17 Globemaster aircraft transported personnel and equipment. The contingent landed at Eielson, a USAF base in Alaska, on 29 May, an IAF release stated.
Red Flag is an air combat exercise conducted with multiple scenarios designed to provide realistic combat settings. Forces are demarcated to simulate the desired environment, with the Red Force simulating Air Defence elements and the Blue Force simulating Offensive Composite elements. During this Exercise (Ex), the Red Force was mainly constituted by the USAF Aggressor Sqn flying the F-16 and F-15 aircraft.
For the first time, the IAF’s Rafale aircraft participated in Ex Red Flag, operating alongside the RSAF and USAF F-16 and F-15s, as well as the USAF A-10 aircraft. The missions, which included Beyond Visual Range (BVR) combat exercises as part of Large Force Engagements (LFE) in Offensive Counter-Air and Air Defence roles, were led by the IAF crew. They were actively involved in mission planning and assumed the role of Mission Leaders for designated missions, demonstrating their leadership and strategic capabilities.
Despite the challenging weather and almost sub-zero temperatures, the unwavering dedication and resilience of the IAF maintenance crew ensured the serviceability of all aircraft. This allowed us to successfully undertake all assigned missions, with over 100 sorties flown during the exercise.
Air-to-Air refuelling
The exercise provided invaluable insights into interoperability with our international partners and a collaborative understanding of employment philosophy in a multinational environment. The press release highlighted that ferrying long distances while undertaking air-to-air refuelling en route was both enriching and thrilling, especially for the younger crew.
As they prepare for their return journey, the contingent plans to split en route and engage in exercises with Air Force elements of Greece and Egypt. The IAF, having gained invaluable experience from the Red Flag exercise, is eagerly looking forward to hosting the participating contingents from other countries during Ex-Tarang Shakti-2024. This first-ever Indian multinational air exercise is scheduled to be held later this year, and the IAF is fully prepared to showcase the lessons learned from the Red Flag exercise.
Team BharatShakti
