The Indian Air Force (IAF), the US Air Force (USAF) and the US Navy (USN) have successfully completed an advanced aerial combat training exercise, Red Flag Alaska 16-1, at Eielson Air Force Base, in the US state of Alaska.
RED FLAG-Alaska is a series of Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercises for US forces to provide joint offensive counter-air, interdiction, close air support, and large force employment training in a simulated combat environment.
The four-week exercise witnessed participation from a mix of combat and support elements from the IAF, USAF and USN.
IAF deployed SU-30 MKI aircraft and Jaguars DARIN II for offensive counter air operations and integrated strike missions respectively.
The Red Forces comprising the 18 Sqn Aggressor Sqn flying the F-16s and the Blue force constituting USAF’s F-15, F-16, F-22 and USN’s F-18 aircraft participated in the exercise under multiple simulated scenario.
354 operations group chief operations officer Lieutenant Colonel Brian Toth said: "The IAFs participation has been extremely good from my perspective.
"For most nations it takes an exercise or two to step up to meet the requirements of a Mission commander.
"The IAF has been mission commander three times and also performed the package commander roles and they have done a tremendous job."
During the exercise, White Force was formed to evaluate the performance of the participants in an objective and logical manner, by using high tech instrumentation and mission debrief tools.
The White Force watched the entire exercise in real time on tactical displays in the operations room on ground.
