Gagan Shakti, the exercises will bring into play 1100 combat and non-combat aircraft. The two week long exercises will involve 300 officers and 1500 airmen. According to one air force personnel, the exercises will involve all the assets of the Air Force and are designed to test its war waging capacity.
The Indian Air Force conducted pan India Exercise Gagan Shakti-2018 from 08-22 Apr 2018.Click here to read about INDRA 2017
Details about Gagan Shakti 2018 :
The first phase involved operations over the western seaboard and began on April 10. Specifically, Su-30 and Jaguar fighters equipped with Harpoon and Brahmos missiles practiced hitting targets. These targets were spread over the western seaboard. The focus was on practicing all-terrain operability including desert, maritime situations and special operations. The second phase, which happened a week later, involved operations on the western seaboard. The difference was that these operations were conducted in conjunction with the Indian Navy. The full force of the Indian Navy assets were operating from their base in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Indian Navy’s P-8i MR aircrafts, along with the IAF Su-30 and Jaguar, participated in the exercise. Both China and Pakistan, according to protocol, were informed of the exercises beforehand.Quick Facts about IAF Exercises:
- Operation Brass Tacks in 1987 was the largest peacetime exercise carried out by the Indian Air Force before Gaganshakti in 2018.
- 5000 sorties were flown during the Gaganshakti 2018, which is more than any exercise undertaken by the IAF before.
- The Chinese Air Force has a total of 60 squadrons, which includes their stealth fighters.