• The Indian Air Force’s Rafale fighter jets carried out complex missions along with F-16 and F-15 combat aircraft at a multinational mega military exercise in Alaska in the US.

• The key takeaways from participating in the Red Flag exercise for the IAF included insight on interoperability with international partners and a collaborative understanding of missions in a multinational environment.

• The IAF contingent participated in the exercise from June 4 to 14.

• Besides the Indian Air Force (IAF), the exercise witnessed the participation of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF), the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), the German Luftwaffe, and the US Air Force (USAF).

• The transatlantic ferry of Rafale fighter aircraft was enabled by the IL-78 air-to-air refuellers while the transportation of personnel and equipment was undertaken by C-17 Globemaster aircraft.

Red Flag exercise 

• Red Flag was originally conceived in 1975 by the US Air Force (USAF) with an advanced aerial combat training format, the purpose being to ensure that pilots are trained well enough to survive in air combat and win air battles. The exercise holds a tremendous learning opportunity for all the participating Air Forces.

• The Indian Air Force participated in the exercise for the first time in 2008.

• Red Flag is an air exercise conducted with multiple scenarios designed to provide realistic combat settings.

• This was the first time the IAF Rafale aircraft participated in this exercise. The Rafale jets operated alongside F-16 and F-15 aircraft of the RSAF and the USAF respectively.

• The missions included Beyond Visual Range (BVR) combat exercises as a part of large force engagements (LFE) in offensive counter air-and-air defence roles.

• Key takeaways from the exercise included insight on interoperability with international partners and a collaborative understanding of employment philosophy in a multinational environment.

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