Eight Jaguar aircraft and one IL-78 Flight Refuelling Aircraft (FRA) of the Indian Air Force will land at the Thiruvananthapuram airport on Monday to participate in Dakshin Prahar, the annual exercise undertaken by the Southern Air Command.
The exercise seeks to validate flexi use of airspace in the southern peninsula as well as other operational concepts. Flexi use involves the unhindered use of airspace by the country's Air Force without affecting civil aviation. The Southern Air Command will work with the Airports Authority of India to implement flexi use.
Dakshin Prahar comes close on the heels of Aero India aviation exhibition at Bangalore. In addition to the Jaguars operating from Thiruvananthapuram, state-of-the-art aircraft such as Su-30 MKIs and AWACS will participate in the exercise. All the combat aircraft are capable of mid-air refuelling by the IL-78s. AN-32s, Avros and Mi-8 would provide vital transport support and perform communication duties during the exercise. All air defence elements, including radars and missile units located in the peninsula, will be activated during the exercise, according to a defence spokesman.
The week long exercise will conclude on February 13.
