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Journalism of Courage
Armed forces participating in multi-nation and bilateral exercises are aimed at gearing up their operational preparedness and nothing should be read beyond this, Defence minister A K Antony said on Saturday.
“There was nothing new in holding or participating in such exercises as it gave an opportunity to the country’s forces to get acquainted with advanced technology, weapons system and platform,” he said.
Asked whether the government would allow the IAF to take part in the ‘Red Flag’ exercises conducted by the US Air Force for its NATO and other allies, Antony said, “If such exercises are highly essential to test the preparedness of the armed forces, the government does give its approval.
“We have been holding such exercises for quite some time now. There is nothing new in it,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a function to inaugurate the Molecular Imaging and Research Center of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
India has participated in multi-nation exercises in the past with the US, France and Singapore.
“We will be holding joint exercises with China in the future,” Antony said.
The IAF has sought the Government’s nod to take part in the world’s most advanced aerial combat training exercises labelled ‘Red Flag’ hosted by the US.
The exercises are conducted in four to six cycles a year by the 414th Combat training squadron of the US Air Force to train fighter pilots from US, NATO and other allied countries for real combat situations by using live hardware and ammunition.
