Indian Air Force exercise and its objectives
Pakistani media has generally ignored some important news coming from across the borders i.e. the IAF’s entire war-machinery has been activated for the ongoing exercise GaganShakti.
Gagan Shakti 2018 is being held nationwide by the Indian Air Force. The exercise began on April 8, and will end on April 22. It’s the biggest such exercise in terms of scale since the Operation Brasstacks in 1986-1987 or Operation Parakram in 2001-2002.
As many as 1,150 fighters, aircraft, helicopters and drones have been deployed for the massive exercise, which is taking place with active participation from the Indian Army and Navy for integrated land-air-sea combat operations.
According to reports in the Indian media, the Indian Air Force launched 5,000 sorties in just three days, simulating attacks on Pakistan.
It was also reported that the IAF has systematically worked towards achieving 83 per cent serviceability (operational availability of the number of aircraft at any given time) for the exercise, in conjunction with Hindustan Aeronautics and base repair depots, from the usual 55pc-60pc in peacetime.