India ready to host its first multinational air exercise ‘Tarang Shakti’ in August

• The Indian Air Force’s first multinational air exercise, Tarang Shakti-2024, will be held in August, and is likely to see the participation of 10 countries, in addition to a few others acting as observers.

Highlights:

• “Enriched with the Red Flag exercise (US AIr Force) experience, the IAF keenly looks forward to hosting the participating contingents from other countries during Tarang Shakti-2024,
• The plan is to invite friendly foreign countries with whom the IAF interacts regularly and has a certain degree of interoperability.
• The exercise is now scheduled to be held in two phases.
  • The first will be held in southern India in the first two weeks of August and
  • The second will be in the western sector from the end of August to mid-September.
  • Some countries will participate in both phases, while others will join one of the two phases.
• Among the countries sending contingents are Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
• Germany will deploy fighter jets and also an A-400M transport aircraft.
• The A-400M aircraft will be on showcase for the IAF, given that it is a contender for the open tender for medium transport aircraft.

U.S. event

• The Red Flag exercise, hosted by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) concluded at the Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.
• Apart from the IAF, this edition saw the participation of the Singapore Air Force, the U.K.’s Royal Air Force, the Royal Netherlands Air Force, and the German Luftwaffe.
• The IAF deployed eight Rafale fighters, a first at Red Flag, supported by IL-78 mid-air refuellers for the transatlantic ferry, as well as C-17 Globemaster aircraft.

Prelims Takeaway:

• Tarang Shakti
• 5th Gen Fighters