Indian Air Force to participate in multi-nation air exercise in the UK
The Indian Air Force (IAF) will participate in a multi-nation air exercise named 'Ex Cobra Warrior 22' at Waddington in the UK from March 6 to 27. IAF's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas will participate in the exercise and fighter aircraft of the UK and other leading Air Forces.
Exercise Cobra Warrior is the Royal Air Force's premier tactical training event aimed at developing the tactical skills of its aircrew and supporting elements in a Composite Air Operation. The exercise aims to provide operational exposure and share best practices amongst the participating Air Forces, thereby enhancing combat capability and forging bonds of friendship.
Participation in this exercise would enable the indigenously developed LCA Tejas to demonstrate its manoeuvrability and operational capacity.
Five Tejas aircraft are scheduled to fly to the United Kingdom. IAF's C-17 aircraft will provide the necessary transport support for induction and de-induction.
The indigenous aircraft recently participated in the 'Singapore Air Show-2022' held from 15 to February 18 2022.
According to the Indian Defence Updates report, "The Indian Air Force will send five FOC standard Tejas mark one fighter jets to Britain for joint combat. The exercise corporate warrior 2022 will start at the Waddington airbase from March 7 with the Royal Air Force. It will also see participations of aircrafts from the air forces of Saudi Arabia, Belgium, and Sweden. The pilots will be executing complex airborne missions, air to air operations in mock dog fights and aircraft interceptions, and simulated ground attacks. The Indian Air Force will also deploy C-130J and C-17 aircraft but refuelling aircraft will not be a part of the group. Three Tejas fighter jets with three external drop tanks recently flew more than 3000 kilometres nonstop to Singapore for the air show that also demonstrated the long range ferry capabilities of the live combat aircraft."
Earlier this year, a contract to manufacture 83 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fighters were handed over to the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) by the Defence Ministry at the Aero India international air show.