Air forces of India and the US are currently undergoing a 12-day military exercise in Kalaikunda and Panagarh air bases in West Bengal from December 3 with an aim to enhance operational coordination, officials said.
Air forces of India and the US are currently undergoing a 12-day military exercise in Kalaikunda and Panagarh air bases in West Bengal from December 3 with an aim to enhance operational coordination, officials said.
The 'Ex Cope India-18' will be the fourth edition in the series of bilateral drills between the Indian Air Force and the US Air Force.
This is for the first time, the exercise is being held at two air force bases, the officials said."The aim of the exercise is to provide operational exposure and undertake mutual exchange of best practices towards enhancing operational capability," the IAF said in a statement.
The US has sent a fleet of F15 C/D and C-130 military aircraft. The IAF is participating with the Su-30 MKI, Jaguar, Mirage 2000, C-130J and AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft.The US and Indian air forces are enhancing their overall cooperation as part of deepening of defence and security ties between the two countries.
US President Donald Trump, in his first prime-time televised address to the nation as commander-in-chief last year, had laid out his South Asia policy saying a "critical part" of it was to further develop the USA's strategic partnership with India. In June 2016, the US had designated India a "Major Defence Partner" intending to elevate defence trade and technology sharing with India to a level commensurate with that of its closest allies and partners.
(All Pictures courtesy Indian Air Force)
(Description of planes courtesy information given by Indian Air Force)
1. Air Force chief handing over memento
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#CopeIndia2018 : Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa visited AFS Kalaikunda, today. He welcomed all the participants of the exercise Cope India 2018.
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 5, 2018
He interacted with the forces & wished them all happy landings at KKD.@PACAF@DefenceMinIndia@SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/9mKhkTAlGS
2. Air Force chief B S Dhanoa interacting with the US Forces
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Air Force chief B S Dhanoa visited the Kalaikunda Air Force Station Tuesday to interact with participating forces of ongoing Ex Cope India 18 between India and the US, according to an official statement.
Dhanoa was briefed in about various phases of the exercise and was apprised of its progress.
During the interaction, Dhanoa emphasised on the importance of joint exercises as they create an environment of camaraderie and an opportunity to learn from each other's best practices in enhancing operational synergy.
3. Glimpses of operations from AFS Panagarh
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4. The IAF C-130J & USAF C-130H are operating from AFS Panagarh
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Special forces are also present on the site.
#CopeIndia2018 - Air Commodore JS Mann is the IAF team leader for the exercise Cope India 2018.
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 4, 2018
Air Cmde Mann gives a brief insight into the exercise CI-18 & talks about the various forces engaged, mission planned & the overall aim.@PACAF@SpokespersonMoD@DefenceMinIndia pic.twitter.com/j0CGG6TisF
5. Joint operation underway
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6. IAF Mirage-2000 aircraft is participating in CopeIndia2018
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Mirage is a single seat, air defence, multi-role fighter of French origin powered by a single engine. The aircraft was inducted into IAF in 1985 & has been recently upgraded with all modern features
7. USAF F-15 aircraft are participating in CI-18
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The F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather air superiority fighter aircraft designed by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing). The aircraft has been in active service in USAF since 1976.
8. Su-30MKI aircraft is participating in the exercise
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Su-30 MKI is a twinjet multirole air superiority fighter aircraft developed by Russia's Sukhoi & built under licence by India's HAL for IAF. The aircraft was inducted in IAF in Jun 199
