INDIAN AIR FORCE PARTICIPATES IN MULTINATIONAL EXERCISE DESERT FLAG-10 IN UAE

IN NEWS – Indian Air Force Participates in Multinational Exercise Desert Flag-10 in UAE

A contingent of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has reached Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates (UAE) to take part in the 10th edition of Exercise Desert Flag, a premier multinational air combat exercise.
The IAF is deploying MiG-29 and Jaguar aircraft for the exercise, showcasing India’s indigenous and legacy air combat platforms in a global arena.
The exercise will be conducted from 21 April to 08 May 2025, hosted by the UAE Air Force.
Participating air forces include those of Australia, Bahrain, France, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Republic of Korea, Turkey, UAE, the United Kingdom, and the United States, apart from India.
The key objectives of the exercise are to:
- Conduct complex and diverse fighter engagements.
- Facilitate exchange of operational knowledge and best practices among top global air forces.
- Enhance interoperability, mutual understanding, and military cooperation.
India’s participation reinforces its commitment to strengthening defence and strategic partnerships with friendly nations in the West Asian and global defence landscape.
Engagements such as Desert Flag highlight India’s growing role as a credible air power and its focus on joint operations capability and regional stability.

Exercise Desert Flag:
- A multinational air exercise hosted annually by the UAE Air Force.
- Focuses on air combat training, force integration, and multi-domain interoperability among participating nations.
- Serves as a platform for tactical and strategic air warfare training under realistic operational conditions.
Al Dhafra Air Base:
- Located near Abu Dhabi, it is one of the most important airbases in the Gulf region.
- Hosts air operations for multiple allied nations, including the UAE, US, and France.
Significance for India:
- Strengthens air force-to-air force cooperation with key strategic partners.
- Provides exposure to multinational operational environments and enhances combat readiness.
- Part of India’s broader defence diplomacy and engagement strategy under the Act East and Neighbourhood First policies.

Updated – 20 Apr 2025 ; 04:53 PM | PIB