By Harinder MishraJerusalem, Nov 8 (PTI) India is looking to boost itsspecial forces capabilities, including cross-border counter-terrorist operations, during a two-week military drill withthe air forces of Israel and eight other nations in what isthe largest such exercise in Israeli history.
The 45-member Indian contingent, including 16 Garudcommandos, led by Group Captain Maluk Singh, is also closelyworking with Israel's select special forces during the BlueFlag aerial training exercise with focus on learning whatmakes them excel at special operations.
"We would look to learn and share with them theprocedures followed in mutual interoperability, counter-terrorist operations, method of inducting and training peopleand try and compare to see if a course correction is requiredat our end," an Indian officer leading the Garud commandostold PTI.
"The Israelis are more battle-hardened as they have moreexperience in cross border operations and we can learn fromtheir experiences," the officer said.
In a rare move, while contingents of other participatingnations in the massive "war drill" feature fighter aircraft,the Indian Air Force (IAF) decided to send C-130J SuperHercules aircraft along with Garud commandos who will betraining for a week each with Israeli Air Force's elite units- Unit 5101 (more commonly referred to as the Shaldag Commandounit) and Unit 669 (Airborne Rescue And Evacuation Unit).
The Garud commandos started training with Unit 669earlier this week on Sunday and would be moving to thePalmachim Air Force base next week to train with the ShaldagUnit.
Unit 669 was initially mandated to extract and providemedical treatment to downed (and possibly injured) pilotsbeyond enemy lines. However, in later years the unit alsoparticipated in extraction of soldiers of other arms of theIsrael Defence Forces (IDF), especially Sayeret (SpecialForces) fighters in operations beyond enemy lines and seamenin distress.
Shaldag's declared mission is to deploy undetected intocombat and hostile environments to conduct specialreconnaissance, establish assault zones or airfields, whilesimultaneously conducting air traffic control and commandoactions.
Its operators undergo the longest training phase of anyunit in the IDF, lasting 22 months, and training has a heavyemphasis on navigation.
The mandated role of Garud Commando Force, whose motto -'Defence by Offence' - matches closely with the task assignedto these two special units of the Israeli Air Force.
"They are very strong as far as special forces areconcerned. This is one area we are definitely looking to learnfrom their experience", Maluk Singh told PTI.
The Blue Flag drill is a biannual exercise designed tostrengthen Israel's military cooperation internationally. Thisis the first time India is participating in the drill, alongwith the US, France, Germany, Italy, Greece and Poland. Anunidentified eighth nation is also said to be participating inthe military exercise as per local media.
Israel is among the top three to four arms suppliers toIndia with sales ranging from Phalcon AWACS (airborne warningand control systems) and Searcher, Heron and Harop UAVs(unmanned aerial vehicles) to Aerostat and Green Pine radars,Barak anti-missile defence and several types of missiles andlaser-guided bombs.
The Blue Flag exercise being held at Uvda Air Force Basein Israel's south presents a platform for sharing ofknowledge, combat experience and in improving operationalcapability of the participating nations, a spokesperson forthe IDF said.
As part of the exercise, foreign crews will practicehandling the threat of advanced surface-to-air antiaircraftmissiles, with the Israeli Air Force's so-called Red Squadronplaying the role of the enemy. The exercise will includeflights in formation with planes from different countries,with no countries opposing each other.
Lt Col Nadav, Commander of the 133rd Squadron (Knights ofthe Twin Tail), which operates 'Falcon' (F-15) fighter jetsand is leading the exercise, described it as a "significantmilestone in the relationship between the Israeli Air Forceand international air forces".
"This exercise will allow us to continue cooperating withthese forces in the future as well," he said.
Close to a 100 aircraft and more than a thousand supportcrew and pilots from the visiting air forces are taking partin the drill taking place in the Ovda Base north of thesouthern coastal resort city of Eilat, while officers andattaches from nearly 40 other countries are expected to attendthe exercise which the Israeli Air Force has described asaiming to "simulate extreme combat scenarios and coalitionflights as realistically as possible".
The IDF also said that Israeli squadrons of F-15, F-16Iand F-16C/D jets will be used, alongside transport aircraft,helicopters and unmanned drones, during the exercise.
Greece, Poland and the US will drill using their own F-16s, France will use 2000D fighter jets, Germany will deployEurofighter Typhoon jets, and Italy will use multirolefighters while India will use C-130Js.
Israel also said "electronic warfare" will be used duringthe drills but no details were shared. According to theIsraeli army, the goal of the exercise is to both improvetechnical ability and to strengthen the "diplomaticcooperation between the countries".
The Blue Flag exercise was started in 2013 by Israel butits third edition has attracted huge attention given themassive participation. PTI HMKUN.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.