Gagan Shakti 2024: Indian Air Force’s mega exercise for 10 days
Gagan Shakti 2024: The Indian Air Force (IAF) showcases its strength and capability to conduct high-octane operations “in a realistic environment” during the ‘Gagan Shakti 2024‘ exercise from April 1-10.
● The exercise is conducting in different parts of the country, including both the western and northern fronts. However, fighter planes and helicopters flying from different parts of the country are attacking dummy targets at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.
● The Indian Army has facilitated extensive pan-India movement of approx. 10,000 IAF personnel and ammunition to validate the Operational Rail Mobilization Plan (ORMP) aspects of the IAF.
● The Indian Army is providing 12 passenger trains called ‘Combined Express’ with all facilities including food and bedding in Bengaluru, Chennai, Chandigarh, Delhi and Kanpur.
To know about India-Israel’s – Aerospace Services India in Gurugram click here.
● ‘Gagan Shakti’ was last conducted in 2018 when the Indian Air Force flew over 11,000 sorties during the two-phase aerial exercise. It is needed to test the Indian Air Force’s preparedness for a two-front war with China and Pakistan.
Other exercises like Gagan Shakti 2024:
The latest exercises follow the Vayu Shakti-2024 exercise, which was held at the Pokhran Air-to-Ground Range near Jaisalmer on February 17.
● This year’s Vayu Shakti was followed by the tri-service Bharat Shakti exercise, which was witnessed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Pokhran on March 12. A Tejas was aircraft crashed near Jaisalmer minutes after taking part in a tri-service exercise, the first incident for a Tejas LCA Mk-1.
● Later this year, the Indian Air Force will host a mega exercise named ‘Tarang Shakti‘ which is expected to bring together 12 global air forces. This exercise will be the largest multinational air exercise to be conducted on Indian soil.