According to reports the US Air Force (USAF) has invited India to become a regular participant in the multi-national Red Flag exercise. Captain Marcus Wilson of the USAF admitted that IAF is a world class air force with great aircraft and great leadership. It is a great training opportunity for USAF and IAF to integrate each other's assets in training environment.

 

In red flag exercise, the IAF and other invited air forces along with a large US Air Force fight for ‘Blue Forces’ against the aggressors - the ‘Red Forces’. US seemed impressed by the skill and prowess of the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots, and the invitation is symbolical for the same. Other than India other participating countries are France, and South Korea.

 

The exercise comprises fighter planes like Sukhoi-30s, F-15s and F-16s, Prowler of US Navy, Rafale of the French Air Force and Korea's F-15s. This time the exercise called the Red Flag-08 will be held at the Air Force base Nellis in Nevada, US. It has various phases which include the crawl, walk and run pattern of exercise.