Indradhanush-2007 Draws to a close

New Delhi, July 13 (UNI) The curtain finally rang down on the second bilateral Indo-UK Air Exercise 'Indradhanush 2007' which concluded on a high note at Royal Air Force (RAF) Waddington in the UK, with both sides terming the air wargames ''an outstanding success''.

The exercise that began a fortnight ago with a series of One vs One sorties reached its crescendo with a highly complex scenario -- a 6vs6 aerial combat involving four Su-30 MKIs, an equal number of F3 Tornadoes, and two each of Typhoons and Royal Navy Sea Harriers.

Also airborne were an IL-78 MKI air-to-air refueller and an E3D Sentry AWACS aircraft in the vicinity of the exercise.

According to reports received here today, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal FH Major -- currently on an official tour to the UK -- was present at RAF Waddington yesterday to see the exercise culminate and meet the participating IAF team members.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Clive Loader, Commander-in-Chief (CinC) Air Command, RAF, accompanied the Indian Air Chief during the visit.

This was the first time that the IAF carried out an exercise anywhere in the UK. It was also the IAF Su-30 MKI's maiden arrival over the European skies -- keenly awaited by thousands of aviation aficionados and spotters who thronged the perimeter of the airbase unfailingly on a daily basis all through the exercise duration.

The visit by the IAF team also coincided with the Waddington International Air Show and the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at Fairford -- all within a span of a fortnight.

The IAF participation in the two events was a coup of sorts for the organisers. And after having been adjudged the 'Best Static Display' at the Waddington Air Show, expectations were already soaring high for this weekend's RIAT, the world's biggest air show.

The exercise wasn't about winners or losers, yet both sides ended on a winning note.

''It was an excellent learning curve for our pilots who will go back with a lot of experience'', said Air Chief Major. He also thanked the UK Government and the RAF for hosting the IAF in England.

RAF C-in-C Air Chief Marshal Sir Clive Loader termed the exercise an ''outstanding success''.

Earlier, Group Captain E Stringer, Station Commander RAF Leeming -- while briefing the visiting Indian Air Chief -- said the RAF had adopted a 'building-block' approach to meet future IAF training and coalition aspirations.

''The exercise achieved all its aims and objectives'', he added.

Summing up on the RAF experience, he said a major outcome of the exercise was the appreciation of the fact that the two Air Forces actually ''see the world through similar eyes'' and that there were many ''commonalities'' in the tactical procedures of the two Air Forces -- thereby laying the foundation for further RAF-IAF interactions.

UNI