Air Chief Marshal F H Major on Friday said IAF fighter pilots are now gearing up to take part in the world famous US 'Red Flag' air combat exercise, confirming an earlier TOI report.

But it's too early for the Left to raise their flags of protest against the 'Red Flag' since the exercise will be held only in mid-2008.

Six IAF fighters, two transport aircraft and an IL-78 mid-air refueller are likely to fly to Nellis US air force base at Nevada, north-west of Las Vegas, for the exercise.

"We have bid for 'Red Flag' in 2008. It's the most sought after exercise in the world. The facilities at Nellis can simulate all kinds of air warfare and we want our pilots and technicians to be exposed to it," said ACM Major.

India and US have held around 50 joint military exercises in the last six-seven years to enhance "functional interoperability" between their armed forces, with the recent Malabar naval war-games in the Bay of Bengal being the latest example.