10-10-2007, 11:42 AM
IAF seeks govt nod to take part in 'Red Flag' war games
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->5 Oct 2007
NEW DELHI: In a move that could raise the hackles of the Left parties, the Indian Air Force has sought the government's nod to take part in the world's most advanced aerial combat training exercises, ironically labelled "Red Flag", hosted by the US.
The IAF wants to take part in the exercises slated for January 2008 and has sought government's clearance, Air Force Chief Fali Homi Major said here on Friday.
If the government gives the nod, this would be the second time in months that the Indian armed forces would be engaged in war games with US and its NATO allies.
Last month Indian warships conducted war maneouvers with ships, submarines and fighters from US, Australia, Japan and Singapore in the Bay of Bengal, which triggered widespread protests from left parties.
"We have bid to take part in the exercises in 2008, which are most sought after by air forces the world over," Major told reporters during an interaction here.
The Red Flag exercises are conducted in four to six cycles a year by the 414th Combat training squadron of the US Air Force to train fighter pilots from US, NATO and other allied countries for real combat situations by using live hardware and ammunition.
The exercises are conducted within the Nellis range complex, located northwest of Las Vegas, which covers an area of 60 nautical miles by 100 nautical miles approximately half the area of Switzerland.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->5 Oct 2007
NEW DELHI: In a move that could raise the hackles of the Left parties, the Indian Air Force has sought the government's nod to take part in the world's most advanced aerial combat training exercises, ironically labelled "Red Flag", hosted by the US.
The IAF wants to take part in the exercises slated for January 2008 and has sought government's clearance, Air Force Chief Fali Homi Major said here on Friday.
If the government gives the nod, this would be the second time in months that the Indian armed forces would be engaged in war games with US and its NATO allies.
Last month Indian warships conducted war maneouvers with ships, submarines and fighters from US, Australia, Japan and Singapore in the Bay of Bengal, which triggered widespread protests from left parties.
"We have bid to take part in the exercises in 2008, which are most sought after by air forces the world over," Major told reporters during an interaction here.
The Red Flag exercises are conducted in four to six cycles a year by the 414th Combat training squadron of the US Air Force to train fighter pilots from US, NATO and other allied countries for real combat situations by using live hardware and ammunition.
The exercises are conducted within the Nellis range complex, located northwest of Las Vegas, which covers an area of 60 nautical miles by 100 nautical miles approximately half the area of Switzerland.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->