[dragracer567]

India's own Red Flag - the Tarang Shakti exercise

After being a frequent participant in various multinational exercises such as the US' Red Flag & Australia's Pitch Black, India is now hosting its first ever multinational exercise for aerial warfare - the Tarang Shakti.

11 countries (including India) are participating in the exercise with the following aircraft:

F/A-18: Australia

F16s: Greece, UAE & USA

Typhoons: Germany, Spain, UK

A10: USA

Rafale: France, India

C130: Bangladesh (remains to be seen with recent events), Singapore, India.

A400M: Germany (not in list but landed in Sulur for first phase)

Refuellers: UK (not in list but landed in Sulur for first phase), USA, India

AWACS: UAE, India

Other Indian Aircraft: Tejas, Su-30 MKI, Mirage 2000, Jaguar, Mig 29, Prachand, Rudra.

The exercise consists of two phases:

The first phase at Sulur with Germany, France, Spain and UK. This is part of a Pacific Skies 2024 mega deployment to the Indo-Pacific (with the UK joining them in India) consisting of eight German Eurofighters, four Spanish Eurofighters, four French Rafale fighters, 12 German Tornado strike aircraft, nine A400M transports (four German, three French, two Spanish), one Spanish A330 transport, and four German H145M helicopters., to showcase the long-range capabilities of these Air Forces of Middle Power European countries through a round the world trip, taking part in various multilateral exercises (route below):



More info on this deployment in this TWZ article.

This phase is currently taking place (photos below):

The second phase will take place in Jodhpur with Australia, Bangladesh, UAE, Singapore, USA, Greece.

Overall 51 countries were invited, some of whom will still attend as observers. Russia turned down the invitation, as expected while Israel was also invited but not included in the list (maybe for political reasons). Canada & Turkey are notable exceptions though the former was invited to and participated in a Milan multi-lateral naval exercise earlier this year. Representation from Asia & Africa seem abysmal (Latin America can be excused given the distance), but the attendee list should expand in the coming years like how the Aussies expanded theirs.

It is quite interesting to see the Tejas flying with Eurofighters & Rafales, but it really needs canards (maybe for MK-2 ). Also, it seems a bit strange to see a Luftwaffe Eurofighter with a balkenkreuze flying over the distinct Tamil Nadu landscape!















In the photo below, the Tejas is apparently flown by the Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh VCAS of the IAF while the Eurofighter is flow by the Cmdr Lt Gen Ingo Gerhartz of the Luftwaffe.

[Aditya]

Tarang Shakti | India's first ever multinational exercise for aerial warfare - Post moved to a new thread.

[SuperGirl_Dad]

Originally Posted by dragracer567

Also, it seems a bit strange to see a Luftwaffe Eurofighter with a balkenkreuze flying over the distinct Tamil Nadu landscape!

Attachment 2637847

Maybe Captain Karl von Müller of Emden, came back after 110 years to continue his bombardment and exploits

[ads11]

Originally Posted by dragracer567

India's own Red Flag - the Tarang Shakti exercise

Wow - quite an extensive exercise. Lots of components and participants. Good to see, it's a good indicator of the burgeoning defence ties India has with a growing collection of nations.

Especially pleased to see a photo of all the delta wing participants. Does drive home how pint sized the Tejas is compared not just to something like the Rafale but the Eurofighter.

Is the Mk2 meant to be larger overall besides getting the canards? Probably will start to approach Rafale size I wonder. Actually might Google to see how the Tejas compares to that erstwhile delta wing F-16 prototype just for curiosities sake.

Originally Posted by SuperGirl_Dad

Maybe came Captain Karl von Müller of Emden, came back after 110 years to continue his bombardment and exploits

Wasn't aware of WW1 commerce raiding by the Germans reaching as far as India - thanks for sharing!

[dragracer567]

Originally Posted by SuperGirl_Dad

Maybe Captain Karl von Müller of Emden, came back after 110 years to continue his bombardment and exploits

I'd read about this long back! The ship escaped long before the British shore batteries could respond.

Originally Posted by ads11

Is the Mk2 meant to be larger overall besides getting the canards? Probably will start to approach Rafale size I wonder. Actually might Google to see how the Tejas compares to that erstwhile delta wing F-16 prototype just for curiosities sake.

Yes, the MK2 is supposed to be bigger, more like a middle-weight aircraft, in the same league as the F16 perhaps. The difference with be similar to the Gripen & Gripen E or the Hornet & Super Hornet along with the engine upgrade to F414 (again, just like Hornet vs Super Hornet). The Mk1/Mk1A is indeed quite petite, evident from this old photo where you can compare the outlines of the Tejas with the F16 and Typhoon.



The Typhoons and Rafales themselves seem quite small next to the Flanker family and F15s which are even bigger than some small business jets.

Seems interesting that most modern Air Forces are moving away from lighter fighters for jets that can be termed middle-weight and multi-role, even with heavier jets, the only options are Flanker variants or F15 variants and perhaps the Chinese J20. Does anyone other than India, South Korea & Pakistan even make light jets anymore?