New Delhi/UNI: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has deployed the indigenously built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas for its maiden international multilateral Exercise Desert Flag VIII at Air Force Base Al Dhafra in the UAE.

The Indian Air Force contingent comprises five LCA Tejas, two C-17 Globemaster IIIs and 110 personnel.

The IAF in a tweet said: “An IAF contingent has arrived in UAE to participate in the multilateral exercise, #ExDesertFlag."

“The exercise will be conducted till 17 Mar 23, with the #IAF participating with five LCA Tejas and two C-17 aircraft.”

An official statement said that “an Indian Air Force contingent comprising of 110 Air Warriors has arrived at Al Dhafra airbase of United Arab Emirates for participating in Exercise Desert Flag VIII.

The IAF would be participating with five LCA Tejas and two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.

This is the first occasion when the LCA Tejas shall participate in an international flying exercise outside India.

Exercise Desert Flag is a multilateral air exercise in which Air Forces from UAE, France, Kuwait, Australia, UK, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain, Republic of Korea, and USA would also be participating. The exercise is scheduled from Feb 27 to Mar 17.

“The aim of the exercise is to participate in diverse fighter engagements and learn from the best practices of various Air Forces,” the statement said.

The IAF's participation in the multilateral exercise comes as Indian Naval ship INS Sumedha arrived in Abu Dhabi on Friday to participate in UAE’s Naval Defence Exhibition 23 (NAVDEX 23) and International Defence Exhibition 23 (IDEX 23).

INS Sumedha is part of a large defence delegation that is representing India in the events.

“A friendly call : INS Sumedha arrives in style at Abu Dhabi to participate in NAVDEX 23 and IDEX 23. The indigenously built Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel was also welcomed by the members of Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy,” the Indian embassy in UAE tweeted.