IAF’s 'Gagan Shakti-2024' 10-day mega exercise from April 1

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is going to conduct the country's largest air military exercise in the name of 'Gagan Shakti-2024'. All the Air Force stations of the country will participate in the ten-day 'Gagan Shakti-2024' exercise.

Maneuvers will be held in the field firing range of Pokaran:

• This exercise will be organized at the field firing range at Pokhran from 1 April 2024. About 10 thousand airmen of the Air Force will participate in this ten-day exercise.
• According to the instructions issued by the Defence Ministry, both the Western and Northern fronts will be included in this.

'Gagan Shakti Abhyas' takes place every five years: 

• It  is held every five years as per defence establishments. During the exercise, fighter aircraft and helicopters flying from different parts of the country will "attack mock targets" at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.
• Ahead of 'Gagan Shakti 2024', the Indian Army has been involved in providing logistical support to the AIF in the true spirit of "achieving synergy across sectors".
• The Army has facilitated a comprehensive pan-India movement of approximately 10,000 IAF personnel to validate operational rail mobilisation.
• This involved drawing up rail transport plans from different groups across India for onward and return journeys according to an operational plan.
• Various passenger trains are time-scheduled and provided with all facilities including food and bedding by the Army from different cities.
• To reflect inter-service harmony, these passenger trains have been named 'Joint Express' trains. Sources in the defense establishment said his return visit has been planned in April.
• Connectivity is being ensured through the Movement Control Organization (MCO) of the Indian Army.
• Two ammunition trains are also being deployed to supply ammunition from the depot to the exercise areas. 

Last edition of 'Gagan Shakti' in 2018:

• 'Gagan Shakti' was last held in 2018. In this, the Indian Air Force flew more than 11,000 sorties during the two-phase air exercise. In which the concentration of deployed assets of the security forces was transported from the western sector to the eastern front in less than 48 hours.
• During this time, an attempt was made to test the preparedness of the Indian Air Force for a two-front war with China and Pakistan.

AIF will conduct mega exercise named 'Tarang Shakti' 2024:

• Later this year, the Indian Air Force will host a mega exercise that is expected to bring together 12 global air forces.
• It will focus on improving interoperability, adopting best practices from each other and promoting military cooperation between the participating countries.
• Named 'Tarang Shakti', it will be the largest multinational air exercise to be conducted on Indian soil.
• This will include fighter jets, transport aircraft, helicopters, mid-air refuellers, AWACS aircraft and unmanned systems.
• Whereas 'Tarang Shakti' will be the largest multilateral exercise to be conducted in India. The Indian Air Force has participated in many such exercises on foreign soil.