IAF planning to engage Russia for joint air exercises, says chief Arup Raha

[RPK]

Indian Air Force planning to engage Russia for joint air exercises, says chief Arup Raha | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis

The Indian Air Force is planning to engage Russia for joint air exercises like the ones it has been conducting with other nations, IAF chief Arup Raha said on Monday. Raha said this while holding a joint press conference with French Air Force chief General Denis Mercier at the Jodhpur air base here. The two were here to participate in the ongoing fifth Indo-French air exercise 'Garuda-5'.

"We are currently holding joint air exercises with the US, UK's Royal Air Force, Singapore, Oman and France for quite some time and the experiences have been conducive for both the participating nations. And now, we are planning to engage Russia for similar exercises," Raha said.

After arriving at Jodhpur in the morning, Raha and Mercier flew frontline fighter planes of each other's country, Su-30 MKI and Rafale. Referring to the Indo-French air exercise, Raha said we decided to hold the fifth edition in Jodhpur considering the strategic and geographic location as well as the climatic conditions.

"But holding this exercise in Jodhpur should not be seen as having any bearing on the on-going negotiations for the deal of Rafale aircrafts," he said. Mercier described the exercise as a good experience.

He said flying in such hot climatic conditions was not a new thing for him and termed the experience of flying Su-30 MKI as an unique one. When asked how Rafale would add to the might of the IAF, Mercier said the aircraft has some unique features, from design to tactical and strike capabilities.

 

[Tshering22]

I never quite understood why Russians never brought their air force for training with us.

We have a detailed army and navy engagement. But no air to air interactions.

 

[acetophenol]

I never quite understood why Russians never brought their air force for training with us.

We have a detailed army and navy engagement. But no air to air interactions.

I never quite understood why Russians never brought their air force for training with us.

We have a detailed army and navy engagement. But no air to air interactions.

May be its due to the commonality in the equipment,and we have very little to learn from them.

 

[sancho]

May be its due to the commonality in the equipment,and we have very little to learn from them.

Depends on the aim of the exercise, for example if IAF wants to see how it fares against single seat Flankers and who else than the Russians could show us, how to use the Flankers or it's weapons in the most effective way? However, I would prefer India to use such exercises especially to increase relations with other countries in the area. Would love to see an Asian version of Red Flag in India, with Su 30s from Malaysia and Indonesia, F16 B52s from Singapore, soon Omani EF's, or even Migs from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

 

[AUSTERLITZ]

This is good ,with flight hours on the rise russian air force is again becoming powerful.Exercises against them would give us a good idea of how to meet the challenge of flanker armed adversaries.(reas our northern neighbour).We could also exchange tricks our individual air forces use on the flanker that would benefit both.

 

[sancho]

This is good ,with flight hours on the rise russian air force is again becoming powerful.Exercises against them would give us a good idea of how to meet the challenge of flanker armed adversaries.(reas our northern neighbour).We could also exchange tricks our individual air forces use on the flanker that would benefit both.

Would love to see some Su 34s in such an exercise, to get our pilots the chance to train credible low level flight attacks, something which is lacking imo so far.

 

[OCguy]

India has participated in the Red Flag exercises in the US desert, which as of right now is the elite aerial wargame in the world.

In Red Flag 2008, the US helped shorten their launch interval from 60 seconds to 45.

 

[Tshering22]

May be its due to the commonality in the equipment,and we have very little to learn from them.

Oh even wuth common equipment we have a lot to learn from the Russians. Their combat techniques are very different from NATO's collective 'allied' punishment.

We must train with them.