India is all set to debut in a major multi-nation air combat exercise in the strategically-located Persian Gulf region, in the United Arab Emirates.
The Indian Air Force today will dispatch six Sukhoi-30 MKI fighters, two C-17 Globemaster-III aircraft, and around 125 personnel for the high-voltage “Desert Flag” exercise, which will see the participation of air forces from the US, France, South Korea, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.
“India has assiduously built stronger defense ties with the Gulf nations through military training, intelligence-sharing, and a few bilateral exercises over the years. But this will be the first time the IAF will take part in such a multilateral exercise in the crucial Gulf region. The exercise will see the entire gamut of offensive and defensive operations with force-enhancers like AWACS and fight-refueling aircraft in a realistic combat setting,” a senior official said.
