India-Singapore air exercises. Su-30MKI, AWACS fielded.
India, Singapore To Hold Joint Air Force Exercise From 11 Oct
Report by Gautam Datt: "Singapore F-16s arrive for war games with IAF"
Originally published on 10/10/2004 by Delhi The Asian Age (Internet Version-WWW) in English
[FBIS Transcribed Text]
New Delhi, Oct. 9: Six F-16 fighters of the Singapore Air Force have arrived at the Gwalior airbase in Madhya Pradesh for holding a joint exercise with the Indian Air Force [IAF]. This is the first time IAF pilots will get a chance to practice war manoeuvres along with the F-16s. The two Air Forces have begun preparations for the exercise that begins on October 11 and will continue till October 27. Officials said that apart from the six F-16 C/D fighting Falcons, the Singapore Air Force team has also come with the KC-135R refueller and transporter. The exercise, named Ankush, will involve combat moves. The F-16s will be challenged by the Indian fighters. India has decided to pitch in all aircraft types in its inventory excluding the MiG-25s.
This is the second big exercise to be held in Gwalior this year. The US Air Force had come to the base in February this year with their F-15 Eagle. The Indian fighters had given a tough time to the US F-15s and defeated them in the war games. The French Air Force also took part in the exercise at Gwalior last year.
While the IAF has had the experience of staging war manoeuvres against the USAF's F-15 Eagle, it will now get a chance to try out its skills against the F-16s which are flown also by the Pakistan Air Force.
Officials said the exercise is part of the IAF's effort to broaden its horizon. IAF jets last month returned from Alaska after taking part in a multi-national exercise where many Nato countries showed their skills. The team comprised six Jaguars and an IL-78 refueller. A fleet of Indian Mirages has just returned after holding a joint exercise with the South African Air Force. As far as the Singapore Air Force is concerned, it had sent six fighters to France in September for a joint military exercise. The Singapore-French operation, codenamed Exercise Western Arc, ended on October 4. At Gwalior, briefings for the pilots have started in preparation for the joint exercise.
While the main exercise is likely to be held at the Gwalior air base, the RSAF, according to defence ministry sources, may also get the nod to test their prowess at Pokharan range near Jaisalmer.
Source :
http://worldnews.xignite.com/xWorldNews.aspx?articleid=SAP20041010000045
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AWACS, F-16s to take on IAF in joint exercises
The IAF is also keen on the participation of the F-16, the main combat aircraft in the Pakistan Air Force�s fleet, during the exercises. India, with its MiG-29 air defence aircraft and multi-role Mirage-2000 and the SU-30 MKI, has been keen to take on the F-16 and learn from operational capabilities under simulated conditions. Similarly, AWACS, with its ability to provide early warning as well as serve as command post in the air, has been high on the IAF�s agenda.
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Another article form
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20041012/1210545.htm
NEW DELHI: Six F-16 fighters of the Singapore Air Force today commenced joint exercises with the Indian Air Force-- allowing the IAF an opportunity to practice war manoeuvres along with the F-16s for the first time.
The two air forces will for the first time conduct the `Ankush' defensive offensive air exercises till October 27 in the skies over Gwalior, Kalaikunda (West Bengal) and Pokhran (Rajasthan) in which the IAF has decided to pitch in all aircraft in its inventory -- save the MiG-25s.
According to an IAF spokesperson here, the Singapore Air Force have arrived with 6 F-16 fighting falcons, a KC-135R refueller and a C-130 Hercules transporter to conduct the second such exercise this year from Gwalior IAF base. The US Air Force had come to this base in February last with their F-15 Eagles.
And after having successfully taken on the US-flown Eagles, the IAF air warriors will now get a chance to test their skills against the Singaporean F-16s--flown also by the Pakistan Air Force.
The Singapore airmen had only last month taken part in a joint military exercise in France where the air forces of the two countries engaged in air combat and air-to-air flying manoeuvres in `exercise western arc' from September 20 to October 4.
According to Singapore's ministry of defense, the exercise will give Singapore's Air Force ``a valuable opportunity to conduct air operations in realistic and challenging conditions''.
Marking another milestone in the growing defence cooperation between India and Singapore, the exercise will also help enhance inter-operability and mutual understanding between the two Air Forces, the ministry said.
The island city-state has limited air space--as well as territory--and under a recent defence cooperation agreement, its defence forces will be able to conduct military manoeuvres here jointly with the Indian Armed Forces.
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IAF readies to take on F-16s
NEW DELHI: Indian Mirage-2000 and Sukhoi-30 multi-role jets will finally get an opportunity to match their combat skills with the F-16 fighter aircraft. No, the IAF is not going to fly across the border and take on the F-16s of the Pakist-an Air Fo-rce (PAF).
The IAF fighter aircraft, instead, are now all set to hold a joint exercise with the
F-16s of the Singapore Air Force at Gwalior in September-October, say sources.
The IAF has been desperate to size up the F-16s ever since Pakistan acquired them from the US in the mid-1980s. IAF officers were, in fact, quite keen that US field the F-16 Falcons during the 'Cope India-04' joint Indo-US exercise held in Gwalior in February. But, in the end, the USAF took part with F-15C Eagles, disappointing many officers.
"The details are still being worked out for the exercise with Singapore. Their aircraft will also practice live bombing missions at Pokhran," sources said. Incidentally, Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong was in New Delhi last week to strengthen bilateral ties, including finalisation of a mutual legal assistance treaty on criminal matters.
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Some initial IAF reactions :
"Our Sukhois are doing very well against the F-16Cs (of Singapore Air Force) in terms of manoeuvrability, sophistication of avionics and weapon systems. Similarly, our MiG-29s and Mirage-2000s are also matching up to the F-16s," say IAF sources.
According to Times of India " Russian-origin Sukhoi-30MKI jets are apparently outgunning American F-16s on "several aspects" at the ongoing Indo-Singapore air combat exercise in Gwalior. "
IAF is pitting even its MiG-21s, which constitute over 45% of India's combat fleet, against F-16s during the 'Sindex-Ankush' exercise in Gwalior.
"Ever since the Pakistanis acquired F-16s from the US in the mid-1980s, we wanted to size them up. So, we are matching almost all our planes with F-16s of the Singapore Air Force, which are more advanced than the F-16s of Pakistan," said sources.
The IAF has also tasked its elite combat school to develop manoeuvres for MiG-21s to elude the radar cones of F-16s.
IAF spokesperson Squadron Leader Mahesh Upasani only said, "Results of the exercise will be assessed only after the debrief. It's premature to comment at this stage."
Instead of F-16s, the US had fielded the F-15C Eagles during the Cope India-04 exercise in February. So, the decks were promptly cleared when Singapore came knocking for training facilities with its F-16s.
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The chief of the Singapore Navy will be here next week looking to intensify joint activity with India as the defence establishment charts a course in military diplomacy to underpin the foreign ministry's "look east" policy.
Rear Admiral Ronnie Tay will be in the capital and meet his Indian counterpart Admiral Arun Prakash even as the Indian Air Force is preparing for an exercise with the Singapore Air Force in early October.
The Singapore Air Force will deploy six F-16 aircraft for the exercises to be held in the skies over Kalaikunda, Gwalior and Pokhran. The IAF is particularly keen on exercising with F-16 fighters, the frontline aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force.
In his talks with the Indian military establishment - the Singapore navy chief is due to meet the chief of army staff, General .C. Vij, and the vice-chief of air staff - Tay is expected to pick up the threads of a proposal at the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) meet in Bangkok last month for joint patrolling with the Indian Navy of busy sea lanes of communication.
Delhi is also considering a similar proposal from the Malaysian government. The navy conducts joint patrols in the Malacca Straits with the US Navy and last fortnight extended a cooperative exercise (called IndIndoCorpat) in the region with the Indonesian Navy.
The chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy, Admiral Dato Seri Mohammad Anwar Bin HJ Mohammad Nor, met the Indian navy chief on September 7 and explored opportunities for training of Malaysian naval personnel and navy-to-navy cooperation on the high seas in the Indian Ocean Region.
Bimstec countries, the US and France as also other nations in the region are concerned over security in the sea lane called the "6 degree channel", which is just about a mile wide in some stretches and 200 nautical miles long. The region is south of Indira Point, the navy and the coast guard station in the South Andaman Islands.
The Indian Navy is also to begin a sixth instalment in the Malabar series of exercises with the US Navy off the west coast shortly. Defence sources said the exercise would be held off Goa and the US would deploy a Los Angeles class nuclear submarine for the war games.
The US deployment for the Malabar exercise will also include an Arleigh Burke class destroyer, USS Cowpens, a Perry class frigate and a P3C Orion maritime surveillance aircraft.
The Indian Navy is currently evaluating the P3C Orion to reinforce its maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare capability. It is also evaluating the French aircraft Atlantique.
Indian deployment for the Malabar exercise will include a Delhi-class destroyer, a Brahmaputra-class guided missile frigate, TU-142 long-range maritime patrol aircraft and ship-based helicopters.
The exercise, held once a year, will focus on replenishment in the high seas, cross-deck landings, mid-sea air defence and anti-submarine warfare. The Malabar series of exercises were suspended after the 1998 Pokhran nuclear test by India but were revived two years ago.