The Hindu : India, U.S. plan fighter exercises next year

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 23, 2002

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India, U.S. plan fighter exercises next year

By Sandeep Dikshit

The U.S. Air Force Hercules C-130 dropping Indian Army paratroopers at the Malpura Drop Zone in Agra during the "Ex-Cope India 02" exercise on Tuesday. Photo: V.V.Krishnan

AGRA OCT. 22. India and the United States intend taking their military ties into another realm next year. The two sides are drawing up the blueprint for joint fighter jet exercises sometime next year.

This will be the first time-ever that Indian fighter pilots will get the opportunity to acquaint themselves with American air war machines.

Indo-U.S. fighter exercises would be the logical outcome of the joint military transport aircraft exercises, the most extensive of which is currently in progress at Agra, a major IAF transport base as well as home for the elite special forces, the 50th Independent Para Brigade.

Piloting Indian fighter jets, most of them of Soviet or U.K and French pedigree is not an unusual experience for American pilots.

With many former states of the Soviet Union having joined NATO, American fighter pilots regularly train on MiGs and their advance variations. They have also been exposed to French and British fighter planes because of their traditionally close defence ties.

For the first time, IAF's Gwalior-based Mirage-2000s will hold joint exercises French Air Force's Mirages early next year. Besides schooling Indian pilots in French tactics, the training on French Mirage 2000 will help them sharpen the air-to-air refuelling techniques thus preparing them for the arrival of Russian IL-78 refuellers next year.

But the exposure to American fighters will open up new vistas for the Indian pilots, especially the younger lot, who have rarely had the opportunity to try out planes of western origin much less American fighter jets.

In contrast, their Pakistani counterparts have all their lives flown planes of American origin some of whom had inspired awe when they were considered state-of-the-art machines.

Speaking to newsmen at the Agra base, IAF pilots were enthusiastic about the plan. They will imbibe ``the definitively superior tactics'' of American pilots who have operated in real combat situations much more than Indian pilots.

``It will be a major experience for us if the Government takes a decision like this,'' they said.

A decision will be taken at the next meeting of the joint Executive Steering Group (ESG) of the two air forces scheduled to be held in Delhi on November 14 and 15, hinted Col. Jeff LeVault who is coordinating air exercises on behalf of the U.S. Pacific Command.

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