Exercise Indradhanush: Indian Airforce and Royal Airforce
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IAF Jets take on RAF in Joint Drill
Thursday July 5 2007
IANS
WADDINGTON: Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter pilots are matching their skills with their Royal Air Force (RAF) counterparts in a joint drill underway at this British air base.
The drill features the IAF's frontline Sukhoi Su-30 combat jets ranged against the RAF's Tornadoes and Typhoon fighters, as also the Hawk advanced jet trainer.
This is the first time the IAF is staging a joint drill in Britain and only the second with the RAF. The previous exercise was conducted last year at Gwalior in India. This is also the first time the Su-30 is being fielded in a western country.
The inaugural day was primarily for familiarising the IAF aircrew with the flying environment in Britain and saw them flying alongside RAF Tornadoes of 25 Squadron that are based at RAF Leeming but are operating from Waddington for the duration of the exercise.
Also airborne were a Typhoon from 17 Squadron from RAF Conningsby and a Hawk aircraft. "It will be a mutual learning experience for both," said the IAF's Wing Commander A K Bharti after returning from a four-aircraft formation sortie comprising a Su-30, a Tornado, a Typhoon and a Hawk.
Some IAF personnel were also exposed to the airborne warning and control system (AWACs), an electronic eye-in-the-sky platform, when they flew on an E3-D Sentry aircraft of 8 Squadron based here.
The Sentry and the Tornadoes had also participated in Gwalior drill.
Over the next few days, an exercise between the "Red Air" (aggressors) and "Blue Air" (defenders) forces will also incorporate a training element for the latter.
Mediating between the two will be the neutral "White Force". This includes observers from the IAF's Tactics and Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) and the RAF's Air Warfare Centre (AWC), the premiere institutions of the two air forces that constitute the best-amongst-the-best of aircrew and personnel on both sides.
Thursday July 5 2007
IANS
WADDINGTON: Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter pilots are matching their skills with their Royal Air Force (RAF) counterparts in a joint drill underway at this British air base.
The drill features the IAF's frontline Sukhoi Su-30 combat jets ranged against the RAF's Tornadoes and Typhoon fighters, as also the Hawk advanced jet trainer.
This is the first time the IAF is staging a joint drill in Britain and only the second with the RAF. The previous exercise was conducted last year at Gwalior in India. This is also the first time the Su-30 is being fielded in a western country.
The inaugural day was primarily for familiarising the IAF aircrew with the flying environment in Britain and saw them flying alongside RAF Tornadoes of 25 Squadron that are based at RAF Leeming but are operating from Waddington for the duration of the exercise.
Also airborne were a Typhoon from 17 Squadron from RAF Conningsby and a Hawk aircraft. "It will be a mutual learning experience for both," said the IAF's Wing Commander A K Bharti after returning from a four-aircraft formation sortie comprising a Su-30, a Tornado, a Typhoon and a Hawk.
Some IAF personnel were also exposed to the airborne warning and control system (AWACs), an electronic eye-in-the-sky platform, when they flew on an E3-D Sentry aircraft of 8 Squadron based here.
The Sentry and the Tornadoes had also participated in Gwalior drill.
Over the next few days, an exercise between the "Red Air" (aggressors) and "Blue Air" (defenders) forces will also incorporate a training element for the latter.
Mediating between the two will be the neutral "White Force". This includes observers from the IAF's Tactics and Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) and the RAF's Air Warfare Centre (AWC), the premiere institutions of the two air forces that constitute the best-amongst-the-best of aircrew and personnel on both sides.
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'INDRADHANUSH 2007' - AN IAF EXERCISE OF MAMMOTH PROPORTIONS IN OPERATIONAL, LOGISTICAL, MAINTENANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE PLANNING
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12:49 IST
The ongoing bilateral Indo-UK air exercise - 'Indradhanush 2007', at Waddington involves primarily - flying activities. On terra firma overseas, a great deal however involved meticulous logistics, phenomenal administrative, technically flawless and sound operational planning.
At the forefront of such planning have been IAF officers at Air HQ, New Delhi, South Western Air Command (SWAC) HQ, Gandhinagar, Central Air Command (CAC) HQ, Allahabad, and at the Air Force Bases at Pune and Agra, for over six months.
"Bringing it to fruition was a challenge" says Wing Commander AC Chopra, of the elaborate exercise planning. The Deputy Team Leader who together with the Logistics Officer, Wing Comander Manish Dialani and few more officers from the operational and maintenance side made visits earlier to the UK for coordinating the requirements.
"The challenge has just begun," maintains Wing Commander Dialani, of the vast logistical issues that will need winding-up after thorough scrutiny when the team members leave. They were among the core members who arrived at UK ahead of the IAF team and will be amongst the last to leave.
"It is good to have a logistics officer accompanying the team" - echoed most IAF members as the nitty-gritty of accommodation, transportation and food have been well taken care of. Wing Commander Chopra – 'Choppy' – to mates on either side, who had a year's stint earlier at UK during his Staff course in 2003, was on a familiar ground and that helped matters in administrative tie-ups, locally.
"My airmen leave very early in the morning everyday to get the fighters ready in time for the day's exercise. Their requirements of breakfast and vehicles are timely, the going has been smooth" admitted Squadron Leader SBH Reddy, Senior Technical Officer (STO) of the 'Rhinos'. He is at the helm-of-affairs of the technical maintenance of the fighters, and together with his motivated technicians, aims at a '100-percent serviceability' of all the jets during the exercise.
Just 3 miles North of the Royal Air Force (RAF) Waddington, the University of Lincoln is normally bustling with student activities. Averaging nearly 17,500 students, the campus now is transformed into a military bastion besieged by the combined strength of Ex-Indradhanush airmen from the two elite Air Forces of the world - IAF and RAF. "It has been possible to accommodate the members from both Air Forces as the students are on vacation," informs the management at the University.
With the exercise venue being at RAF Waddington, an arrangement convenient with the University now houses 150-members from IAF and 75 from RAF's No. 25 Squadron. The visitors couldn't have asked for a better location. At just a walking distance from the city center, and the centuries old historical Lincoln Cathedral and the Lincoln Castle, the University forms an ideal retreat.
"We are very happy with the arrangements," says Master Warrant Officer D Arpurtharaj, the senior-most airman from the 'Rhinos', on behalf of his boys. Since it is a first-ever 'out-of-country' assignment for nearly all, the excitement, enthusiasm and joie de vivre is palpable in their day-to-day activities in the flight line.
Sickness, another of the worries has been mostly kept at bay. "Primarily there have been only a few cases of loose motions, upper respiratory infections – bronchitis, because of the weather," informs Wing Commander D Chakraborty, the Aviation Medicine specialist accompanying the team who has set-up a small 'medical centre' within the 'daily servicing section' for the ease of his patients. The IAF members arrived at Waddington in the thick of British monsoons after experiencing a simmering hot spell at Doha and Tanagra that led to respiratory problems for a few.
That the exercise is truly going on smoothly and on schedule is a result of the efforts of innumerable IAF air warriors at various levels. The IAF contingent has been presenting themselves as a well turned-out and disciplined outfit. "Surely our Air Warriors deserve to be kitted with the best, for they are representing India," said Wing Commander Shyam Sunder proudly, the Senior Logistics Officer at Air Force Station, Race Course, New Delhi before the team's departure from India. The Station is responsible for all the kitting of IAF contingents when going abroad on UN missions and other foreign assignments.
SKS / TKS / HS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12:49 IST
The ongoing bilateral Indo-UK air exercise - 'Indradhanush 2007', at Waddington involves primarily - flying activities. On terra firma overseas, a great deal however involved meticulous logistics, phenomenal administrative, technically flawless and sound operational planning.
At the forefront of such planning have been IAF officers at Air HQ, New Delhi, South Western Air Command (SWAC) HQ, Gandhinagar, Central Air Command (CAC) HQ, Allahabad, and at the Air Force Bases at Pune and Agra, for over six months.
"Bringing it to fruition was a challenge" says Wing Commander AC Chopra, of the elaborate exercise planning. The Deputy Team Leader who together with the Logistics Officer, Wing Comander Manish Dialani and few more officers from the operational and maintenance side made visits earlier to the UK for coordinating the requirements.
"The challenge has just begun," maintains Wing Commander Dialani, of the vast logistical issues that will need winding-up after thorough scrutiny when the team members leave. They were among the core members who arrived at UK ahead of the IAF team and will be amongst the last to leave.
"It is good to have a logistics officer accompanying the team" - echoed most IAF members as the nitty-gritty of accommodation, transportation and food have been well taken care of. Wing Commander Chopra – 'Choppy' – to mates on either side, who had a year's stint earlier at UK during his Staff course in 2003, was on a familiar ground and that helped matters in administrative tie-ups, locally.
"My airmen leave very early in the morning everyday to get the fighters ready in time for the day's exercise. Their requirements of breakfast and vehicles are timely, the going has been smooth" admitted Squadron Leader SBH Reddy, Senior Technical Officer (STO) of the 'Rhinos'. He is at the helm-of-affairs of the technical maintenance of the fighters, and together with his motivated technicians, aims at a '100-percent serviceability' of all the jets during the exercise.
Just 3 miles North of the Royal Air Force (RAF) Waddington, the University of Lincoln is normally bustling with student activities. Averaging nearly 17,500 students, the campus now is transformed into a military bastion besieged by the combined strength of Ex-Indradhanush airmen from the two elite Air Forces of the world - IAF and RAF. "It has been possible to accommodate the members from both Air Forces as the students are on vacation," informs the management at the University.
With the exercise venue being at RAF Waddington, an arrangement convenient with the University now houses 150-members from IAF and 75 from RAF's No. 25 Squadron. The visitors couldn't have asked for a better location. At just a walking distance from the city center, and the centuries old historical Lincoln Cathedral and the Lincoln Castle, the University forms an ideal retreat.
"We are very happy with the arrangements," says Master Warrant Officer D Arpurtharaj, the senior-most airman from the 'Rhinos', on behalf of his boys. Since it is a first-ever 'out-of-country' assignment for nearly all, the excitement, enthusiasm and joie de vivre is palpable in their day-to-day activities in the flight line.
Sickness, another of the worries has been mostly kept at bay. "Primarily there have been only a few cases of loose motions, upper respiratory infections – bronchitis, because of the weather," informs Wing Commander D Chakraborty, the Aviation Medicine specialist accompanying the team who has set-up a small 'medical centre' within the 'daily servicing section' for the ease of his patients. The IAF members arrived at Waddington in the thick of British monsoons after experiencing a simmering hot spell at Doha and Tanagra that led to respiratory problems for a few.
That the exercise is truly going on smoothly and on schedule is a result of the efforts of innumerable IAF air warriors at various levels. The IAF contingent has been presenting themselves as a well turned-out and disciplined outfit. "Surely our Air Warriors deserve to be kitted with the best, for they are representing India," said Wing Commander Shyam Sunder proudly, the Senior Logistics Officer at Air Force Station, Race Course, New Delhi before the team's departure from India. The Station is responsible for all the kitting of IAF contingents when going abroad on UN missions and other foreign assignments.
SKS / TKS / HS
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