FALCON TALON 2024:- From June 1 to June 11, the US Air Force Central Command (AFCENT) and the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) concluded the Falcon Talon 2024, an annual bilateral exercise aimed at bolstering the strategic partnership between the two nations. Hosted by the Pakistan Air Force, this exercise is a testament to the enduring and critical relationship between the US and Pakistan.
PAK US Joint Exercise ( Falcon Talon 2024 )
On June 25, the US Air Force unveiled details and images from the exercise, which underscored a focus on tactical-level counter-terrorism, air-to-ground weapons employment, and expert exchanges between the two forces.
Airmen from the US Central Command’s area of responsibility were deployed to Pakistan, with support from the Air Mobility Command’s C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, which facilitated the transport of personnel and cargo.
The exercise saw participation from the US Air Force’s F-16 Fighting Falcons from Aviano Air Base’s 510th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, nicknamed the Buzzards. Pakistani sources also revealed that the PAF deployed its F-16s and JF-17 Thunder jets for the exercise. Falcon Talon 2024 was centered on three main areas: tactical execution, logistics support, and planning integration.
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Throughout the exercise, US Airmen worked closely with their Pakistani counterparts, engaging in hands-on experiences and knowledge exchange sessions across various disciplines, including firefighting, explosive ordnance disposal, medical support, and joint terminal attack control.
Members of the 378th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department collaborated with the Pakistan Air Force Fire Department on aircraft pilot egress drills, fuel and munitions handling, aircraft firefighting, policy creation, and effective debriefing sessions, introducing the “hot wash” briefing style.
The exercise concluded with a friendly firefighter competition, which tested the newly acquired skills of both teams. The training also included close air support operations and infiltration/exfiltration techniques, according to the USAF.
