What is Red Flag 24 Exercise?

May 31, 2024

An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent recently arrived at the Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska to participate in the prestigious multi-national exercise, Red Flag 24.

About Red Flag 24:

  • It is a two-week advanced aerial combat training exercise aimed at integrating aircrew in a multinational environment.
  • It is designed to replicate a realistic and challenging environment, bringing together aircrew and equipment from different nations and services.
  • Approximately 3100 service members are expected to fly, maintain, and support more than 100 aircraft during the exercise.
  • The IAF deployed Rafale fighter jets for the Red Flag 24 exercise.
  • The exercises can be adapted to integrate various forces into a realistic threat environment using the more than 77,000 square miles of airspace in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, which is the largest combat training range in the world.
  • Since its inception in 1975, Red Flag exercises are designed to create a comprehensive learning environment by simulating realistic combat scenarios.
    • There are two distinct Red Flag exercise locations: Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada and Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska
    • The Nevada exercise is organized by the United States Air Force Warfare Center (USAFWC), while the Alaska exercise is managed by the Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), the air component command of the United States’ Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM).