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Three International Air Exercises for the IAF
The Indian Air Force is participating in three simultaneous international air force exercises in the UAE, UK, and Japan, which is a very rare occurrence. The exercises aim to promote interoperability, exchange best practices, and enhance mutual understanding. India has deployed a fleet of fighter and transporter aircraft and hundreds of Air Warriors to these exercises being conducted on foreign soil.
Currently, a group of 110 Air Warriors from India is participating in Exercise Desert Flag VIII at the Al Dhafra airbase in the UAE. The Indian Air Force has deployed five LCA Tejas fighters and two C-17 Globemaster III strategic heavy-lifter aircraft to take part in the multilateral air exercise. This marks the first-ever international flying exercise for India's indigenously-built Tejas. Exercise Desert Flag is being attended by air forces from the UAE, France, Kuwait, Australia, the UK, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain, the Republic of Korea, and the USA. The exercise is being conducted from February 27th to March 17th and is aimed at facilitating various fighter jet engagements and learning from the best practices of other participating air forces.
Another of the exercises is the multilateral Air Exercise Cobra Warrior at UK's Waddington Air Force Base, which involves air forces from Sweden, Finland, South Africa, the USA, and Singapore alongside the Royal Air Force and Indian Air Force. A 145-member team from the Indian Air Force has been deployed, along with five Mirage-2000 fighters, two C-17 Globemaster III strategic heavy-lifter aircraft, and an IL-78 mid-air refueller aircraft. The exercise is being conducted from March 6th to March 24th.
The third is, Exercise Maitri 23, is being held on the sidelines of the Indo-Japan Joint Army Exercise Dharma Guardian. This exercise focuses on heavy-lift transport aircraft operations and involves the Indian Air Force and Japanese JASDF. The IAF contingent is taking part in one C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, while the JASDF will be fielding the C-2 transport aircraft. The exercise will comprise discussions on transport operations and tactical manoeuvring, followed by flying drills. It is being conducted on March 1st and 2nd in Japan.