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Delhi, 03 November 2005
After
the defence minister signed the Defence Framework with USA, the
Indo-American defence cooperation is on a high and it looks certain
that the USS Trenton, a 19000 ton LPD will be with the Indian Navy
if all is equal. It will be the largest warship the Navy has
acquired after the two carriers and as analysis IDC hopes HRD of the
Navy keeps up with recruitment for the large induction. There is
news that a few Indian Navy pilots have left for USA for training on
USN carriers so that they can land on INS Vikramaditya (Gorshkov).
Now
a joint IAF–USAF exercise is in the offing at Air Force Station,
Kalaikunda from 07–19 Nov 05. Last year a similar exercise was
held at AF Station Gwalior. The scope of the exercise has been
increased this year to involve larger force levels and USA decided
to change from F-15s to F-16s to pitch them and do well and also
tempt the IAF to choose the F-16s in their quest for 126 fighter jet
selection –– though the IAF is keen on the Mirage 2000 V. The US
is also bringing in the E2 Sentry AWACS and that should be great
exposure for the IAF, as the strategic scenario will change when the
Phalcon Awacs arrive from IAI Israel next year.
Participating
forces include a squadron of F-16s from a USAF base in Japan and
various types of IAF fighter aircraft like the SU-30MKI,
Mirage-2000, BISON and MiG-27. For the first time the AWACS aircraft
will participate in an air exercise in India. This experience will
go a long way in preparing the IAF aircrew in operating in an AWACS
environment before the induction of the IAF AWACS into the service.
The tanker fleet will participate during the induction and
de-induction of forces for the exercise. The practice missions will
include dissimilar Air Combat Manoeuvring (ACM) and Large Force
Engagement (LFE) in the Beyond Visual Range (BVR) regime.
The
aim of the joint exercise is to enhance mutual operational
understanding and refine procedures for future joint exercises
between the two Air Forces. The primary objective of such exercises
is to familiarise with each other’s operational, technical and
administrative practices. The IAF, in the recent past, had
participated in joint exercises with the French and Republic of
Singapore Air Forces and had given a good account of its operational
potential.
In
preparation for the exercise, the Air Force Station has been brought
up to international standards. An initial planning conference,
between IAF and USAF, was held in May 05 and a final planning
conference was held in Sep 05 at Kalaikunda.
In
the recent past the IAF has started participating in multi national
exercises abroad and has also, for the last few years, been hosting
international exercises in the country. For the first time, IAF
deployed some of its fighters for multinational exercises in Alaska,
South Africa and France during the past year. The IAF transport and
helicopter fleets have also been deployed on foreign shores on UN
missions earlier. With every such exercise, the IAF grows in stature
and Air Forces of many friendly nations are showing a keen interest
in exercising with the Indian Air Force.
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