IAF flexes muscle: Massive wargames on border
NEW DELHI: The Indian frontline fighter jets roared in the skies of northeastern India on Thursday as the Indian Air Force (IAF) began a major exercise involving its combat jets and special operations aircraft close to India-China border to test its ‘combat potential’.
The exercise, codenamed ‘Pralay’ - literally meaning devastation, will be testing the mettle of its Sukhoi-30MKIs that were recently deployed on the Indo-China border. The exercise in the Brahmaputra and northeastern region began on February 29 and will involve day and night operations in the inhospitable mountainous region. Lessons learnt from this exercise would be incorporated in ‘future operational strategies’.
The four-day exercise will also span over the territory of Arunachal Pradesh. The annual exercise comes against the backdrop of China protesting a recent visit of Defence Minister A K Antony to Arunachal Pradesh.
“The aim of the exercise is to test the combat potential of the Air Force in various roles such as air defence, ground support operations, counter air operations, electronic warfare and joint operations with the Army,” IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Gerard Gallway said.
Besides Sukhois, IAF’s Mirage-2000, MiG-29, Jaguar, MiG-21 bisons, Mi-17 helicopters, AN-32 transport aircraft, special operations aircraft C-130J, its aircraft-mounted radars AWACS (Air-borne Early Warning and Control System), mid-air refuellers and the Army’s unmanned aerial vehicle will be taking part in this mammoth exercise.
“The exercise will include conduct of Special Forces operations and night operations in conjunction with ground forces,” Gallway added. The exercise will also put to test the facets of network centric operations, electronic warfare as well as information warfare.
Testing Combat Potential
The exercise in the Brahmaputra and northeastern region began on February 29 and will involve day and night operations in the inhospitable mountainous region. Lessons learnt from this exercise would be incorporated in ‘future operational strategies’.
Besides Sukhois, IAF’s Mirage-2000, MiG-29, Jaguar, MiG-21 bisons, Mi-17 helicopters, AN-32 transport aircraft, special operations aircraft C-130J, its aircraft-mounted radars AWACS (Air-borne Early Warning and Control System), mid-air refuellers and the Army’s unmanned aerial vehicle will be taking part in this mammoth exercise.