The US Air Force (USAF) has invited the Indian Air Force (IAF) to take part in the prestigious joint air exercise codenamed ‘Ex-Red Flag 16-1’ which is a 15-day programme scheduled from April 28 to May 13, 2016, at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. The Exercise Red Flag is an advanced aerial combat multinational training air exercise, originally conceived in 1975 by the USAF to provide operational exposure and mutual exchange of operational capability of friendly air forces.

The origin of Exercise Red Flag however can be traced back to the unacceptable performance of US Air Force fighter pilots and weapon systems operators (WSO) in air-to-air combat during the war in Vietnam in comparison to their performance in wars fought earlier. Many air crew of the USAF had also fallen victim to attack by surface-to-air missiles during the Vietnam War and Red Flag exercises provided pilots and WSOs experience in this regime as well.

The first time that the IAF had participated in Exercise Red Flag was at the Nellis Air Force Base in 2008. During this exercise, the IAF contingent was led by Group Captain D. Chaudhury. This is the second time that India is participating in such an exercise after 2008. Due to high costs, the IAF had decided to take part in the exercise once every five years. It was scheduled to take part in the 2013 edition but the exercise was cancelled by the US following budget cuts.

For Exercise Red Flag 2016, the IAF contingent along with the aircraft, departed from Jamnagar on April 3, 2016, for Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. The contingent is led by Group Captain H. Assudani and would aim to demonstrate the ability to project air power in transcontinental deployment of a task force comprising Su-30MKI, Jaguars, IL-78 tankers and C-17 strategic airlift aircraft.

During the exercise, Su-30MKI and Jaguars along with USAF fighters will be operating in composite formations under various near realistic scenarios. The exercise will provide ample opportunity for exchange of ideas relating to concept of operations in a dynamic warfare environment. This multinational air exercise assumes importance in view of the continued engagement of the IAF with friendly foreign countries. The Exercise Red Flag would be one of the most complex aerial war games involving forces from India and the US that will also see airborne early warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft from NATO forces in action. Once again, India has refrained from taking its AWACS for this exercise beyond the shores of India. The exercise is seen as a complex and advanced network-centric operations, the toughest test for flying machines and men. Hopefully, those personnel from the IAF that are participating in the exercise will stand to gain professionally.