How exactly was India SU-30 a Nato compatable equipment? They did participate with them in red flag.
Yes you are right and valid observation ,Infact IAF was very much dependent on 3rd party system to do this ,information here is from 2012 and after that they have participated
IAF pilots shared tactical information with RAF pilots in their formations using radio communications since the IAF's data-link system (which shares critical sensor data with friendly aircraft) was not compatible with the Link 16 system in use with NATO aircraft like the Typhoon.
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indian-air-forces-top-guns-score-wins-in-the-uk-1204336
Indigenous software makes Su30-MKI more compatible
AGENCIES Aug 23, 2008, 04.21pm IST
NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force software experts from Bangalore based Software Development Institute (SDI) indigenously developed software patches to make Su30-MKI avionics compatible with NATO operational philosophy.
This wholly indigenous effort has saved valuable foreign. The IAF is participating in the exercise Red Flag, which is an advanced aerial combat training exercise hosted at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada in USA.
Frontline Indian Sukhoi fighters are pitted against US and NATO air forces' F-16s and F-15s in complex and advanced network centric operations -- the toughest test for flying machines and men.
"The SDI software has made the Su30-MKI platform more versatile and compatible with other Air Forces," said Wing Commander JS Gavankar, Software Engineer from SDI presently with the IAF contingent at Nellis.
The avionics software developed by the SDI has reduced the cockpit workload and has assisted in increasing the pilots situational awareness multifold, said Wing Commander J Singh, Flt Cdr of 20 squardon.
IAF technicians ensured a very high availability of aircraft for all exercise related requirements, during exercise Red Flag despite scorching heat and average tarmac temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius during flying hours. The exercise concludes its operations on August 23.
During extreme heat conditions there is a tendency of the flying machines to develop snags such as leaks in hydraulic systems, engine oil, gear box etc. The performance of avionics system also becomes erratic as integrated circuits develop problems in extreme heat conditions.
However due to proper planning and hard work of IAF technicians, aircraft serviceability was kept high at all times.
Appreciating the IAF technicians Colpnel Corey, Maintenance Commander of USAF base Nellis said: "IAF has maintained amazing serviceability rate in a sustained manner during the entire exercise. This is because of in-depth planning, knowledge and focused approach of the maintainers."
Wing Commander JD Kapoor, Senior Engineering Officer of 20 Squardon said that IAF technical practices and systems are comprehensive and well defined and meticulous adherence to these have ensured high tarmac availability that allowed aircrews to perform their missions.
In some cased there were reports of IAF using AWACS to vectored there positions to enemy which resulted in many simulated losses in one of the excercise . So inorder to real time train Nato compatability plays an important part ,may be the reason JF17 left behind