IAF to Conduct Air Exercise 'Indradhanush' with RAF

New Delhi, Sep 25 (UNI) Giving fresh boost to ongoing Indo-UK Defence Cooperation, a bilateral air exercise 'Indradhanush' is on the cards between the Indian Air Force and the Royal Air Force.

The exercise is slated to be held at Gwalior and Agra air bases from October 2 to 13 next with the IAF deploying -- for the first time in over four decades -- the SU-30, Bison and MiG-27 aircraft along with its Flight Refueling aircraft, said an official spokesman here today.

The RAF contingent will comprise their Tornado F-3 aircraft -- along with the VC-10 Tanker -- and E3-D AWACS aircraft. They plan to bring six Tornado F-3 aircraft from its 43(F) Squadron based at RAF Leuchars in Fife, Scotland; 1 E-3D aircraft from 8 Squadron RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire and 1 VC10 Air-to-Air Refuelling tanker from the 101 Squadron based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

Besides, there will be a total of 245 aircrew, ground crew and support personnel.

The joint exercise aims to enhance mutual operational understanding and refine procedural aspects of the two Air Forces.

Such an exercise would familiarise the crew with each other's operational and technical practices. In preparation for the exercise, an initial planning conference between IAF and RAF was held in February 2006 with a final conference in June this year.

IAF has been participating in various bilateral air exercises -- both abroad as well as in India -- and has been host to US, French and Singapore Air Forces. ''With every exercise, IAF has gained valuable experience and has come to be respected as a highly professional and motivated Air Force'', said the spokesman.

''As a result of these interactions, Air Forces from many friendly foreign countries have shown interest in exercising with the IAF....'' British Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy will be visiting India from October 7 to 14 next and will attend the joint air exercise.

UNI DG VD HT1755