IAF's Akraman underway for precise strikes in enemy zone

The Air Force is currently undertaking a major exercise to hone its skills for precision air strikes deep inside enemy territory, with frontline assets like Rafale fighter jets involved in a complex wargame that factors in heavy electronic warfare as well.

The exercise is taking place even as the situation on the border with Pakistan remains tense in the aftermath of the deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam.

Sources said Exercise Akraman is being conducted in Central India and is simulating precision air strikes in an environment where the enemy has significant air defences and electronic warfare capability.


Frontlines assets, including Rafale jets, have also been moved from the eastern borders for the exercise that involves a variety of combat aircraft and force multipliers. Sources added it is an internal exercise and was initiated before the Pahalgam terror attack.

Equipped with SCALP air-to-ground missiles that have a range of over 300 km, the Rafale is the most potent platform with India capable of carrying out pinpointed strikes deep inside enemy territory. The same missiles were used by Ukraine to take down high-value Russian targets, including the Rostov-na-Donu submarine and a landing ship in Sevastopol. Theoretically, SCALP-equipped Rafale jets can engage targets like Bahawalpur in Pakistan (headquarters of LeT) with the aircraft flying well within India, say in the safety net of the Jaisalmer air base.

At the same time, India has also deployed S400 air defence system that is capable of taking down incoming enemy aircraft and missiles at a range of almost 400 km.

During 2019 air strikes in Pakistan, when a training camp in Balakot was bombed, India used Mirage 2000 jets for the mission as Rafales were not yet in service. Given the limited range of its weapons, the aircraft had to cross into Pakistani territory.