The Indian Air Force conducts its biggest war exercise “Gagan Shakti” at Hindon airbase.
Gagan Shakti 2018 is IAF’s biggest ever exercise that mobilised more than 1100 combat, transport and rotary wing (helicopter) aircraft. More than 300 officers and 15000 air warriors are participating in the exercise.
Gagan Shakti 2018 is IAF’s biggest ever exercise that mobilised more than 1100 combat, transport and rotary wing (helicopter) aircraft. More than 300 officers and 15000 air warriors are participating in the exercise.
Aim
The aim of this exercise is real time coordination, deployment and employment of Air Power in a short and intense battle scenario. Indian Air Force will exercise the entire machinery during the exercise to validate its concept of operations and war waging capability. It will hone the war fighting skills of the air warriors in a real time scenario.Key facts
- The exercises will be conducted from 14th-22nd April 2018 in two stages.
- The first stage will test the war preparedness along the northern border whereas the second stage would involve the western border.
- 300 officers along with 15,000 soldiers of the Air Force, 1100 fighter and transport aircrafts from Air Force and navy are participating in this exercise.
- All types of fighter jets from the Indian Air Force fleet are participating in the exercises.
- For the first time “Tejas”- the indigenously made light combat aircraft will be participating in the exercise.
- Other aircrafts participating in the exercise are - Sukhoii-30 S, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Miraj, C-17 helicopters, C-130 J super Hercules etc.
- Considering the future threats, and recognising the need of participation by the Air Force for actions in the marine region, the Indian navy also has been included in the exercises.
- Paired with the Air Force jets, the ‘MiG-29K’ of the Indian Navy will conduct war exercises in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands region.
