Indian Air Force Rubs Shoulders with USAF, NATO Fighters
Dated 15/8/2008
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Marking a new phase in its defence ties with the US and some of its allies, Indian air force today showcased the skills of its fighter pilots against US and NATO air forces in a complex and advanced network-centric "Red Flag" war games.
Sukhoi-30s, IL-78 tankers and IL-76 aircraft rubbed shoulders with F-15s and F-16s in the network-centric operations--the toughest test for flying machines and men-- over the Nevada desert in their first appearance in the peacetime aerial war games. "We regularly conduct exercises in India. We have also held joint exercises with the US, both in India and in America. But what makes this exercise unique is its scope and scale and the fact that it is a multi-national effort," Wing Commander George Thomas, who is the Commanding Officer of IAF's 20 Squadron, told reporters.
"In India we would launch up to 50 aircraft in an exercise and in Red Flag as many as 70 fighter aircraft are launched in one combat mission. And there are two such missions every day. "What also makes the exercise unique is the range targets at Nellis Air Force Base, both air-to-air and air-to-ground, and the amazing resources," he said during a break in the fortnight-long exercise.
As many as 1,000 personnel, including 247 from IAF, are participating in the two-week exercise concluding on Aug 24. The Indian Air Force has sent eight Su-30s, two IL-78 tankers an IL-76 aircraft.
