‘Gagan Shakti-2024’

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) is being conducting the country’s largest air military exercise in the name of ‘Gagan Shakti-2024’.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

• The exercise is held once in five years.
• It commenced on April 1, 2024, at Pokhran’s field firing range in Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan.
• This exercise will continue till April 10 encompassing both western and northern fronts.
• The exercise is supported by the Indian Army, which is facilitating logistical operations to ensure the smooth movement of around 10,000 IAF personnel and ammunition across India.
• Various fighter planes and helicopters such as Tejas, Rafale, Sukhoi 30, Jaguar, Globemaster, Chinook, Apache, and Prachanda are participating in ‘Gagan Shakti,’ validating the operational readiness and effectiveness of the Indian Air Force.
• It was last held in 2018, during which the IAF completed over 11,000 sorties during the two-phase air manoeuvres.