A five-day joint exercise Cope India-09, involving IAF and USAF transport aircraft, will be held in Agra from October 19 onwards. The participating IAF aircraft will include IL-76, AN-32 and Mi-17 helicopters, while USAF contingent will comprise C-17 Globemaster, C-130J (Super Herclues) and C-130H transport aircraft.
The exercise is aimed at evaluating the efficacy of joint operations in the realm of tactics, aero-medical aspects and Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) missions involving medium and heavy lift transport aircraft, an IAF spokesman said here on Wednesday.
Nearly 160 USAF personnel and about 200 IAF air-warriors will participate in the exercise, he added.
The Indian and US Air Force have regularly conducted joint exercises in India and US over the last ten years. Moreover, the SU-30 fighter jets of IAF last year took participated in the 'Red Flag' exercise in the US where five other countries took part. This exercise is rated as the most demanding and sophisticated and the IAF gave a very good account of itself.
The two countries over the years have also increased military to military relations including joint exercises of the Army and the Navy. Besides this, the defence relations between India and the US have also seen an upswing in the last decade and the US defence industry now has a sizable presence here. These companies are keen to have a share of the nearly $30 billion proposed procurement by India in the next five to seven years.
The exercise is aimed at evaluating the efficacy of joint operations in the realm of tactics, aero-medical aspects and Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) missions involving medium and heavy lift transport aircraft, an IAF spokesman said here on Wednesday.
Nearly 160 USAF personnel and about 200 IAF air-warriors will participate in the exercise, he added.
The Indian and US Air Force have regularly conducted joint exercises in India and US over the last ten years. Moreover, the SU-30 fighter jets of IAF last year took participated in the 'Red Flag' exercise in the US where five other countries took part. This exercise is rated as the most demanding and sophisticated and the IAF gave a very good account of itself.
The two countries over the years have also increased military to military relations including joint exercises of the Army and the Navy. Besides this, the defence relations between India and the US have also seen an upswing in the last decade and the US defence industry now has a sizable presence here. These companies are keen to have a share of the nearly $30 billion proposed procurement by India in the next five to seven years.
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