Source : Times of India Impressed with the combat skills of IAF top-gun pilots flying Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, IL-78 mid-air refuellers and IL-76 heavy-lift aircraft, the US would like IAF to take part in the "Red Flag" wargames on a regular basis. "IAF is a world-class air force, with great aircraft and great leadership. It's a great training opportunity for USAF and IAF to integrate our assets in a training environment. We would like to have IAF here as a regular participant," said Captain Marcus 'Spike' Wilson, leader of American F-15s and F-16s, during the ongoing exercise at Nellis US Air Force base in Nevada. In its largest-ever overseas deployment, IAF's six Sukhois, two IL-78 and one IL-76 aircraft, along with 247 personnel, are now in the final "run" phase of the Red Flag exercise, pitting their skills against American F-15s and F-16s, as also French Rafale fighters and South Korean F-15K jets. "During this phase of the exercise, present-day air battles are replicated, with air-to-air and air-to-ground attacks in full flow. The success of the missions is dependent on the situational awareness of all the persons involved," IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Mahesh Upasani told TOI over the phone. "Hence, the network-centric operations are the pivot on which life and death rests. The main challenge for the IAF team has been to adapt to the USAF network and also carry out 'stand alone' tasks simultaneously. IAF pilots have done this with amazing dexterity," he added. The USAF, of course, is quite excited about witnessing the frontline Russian-origin Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, which are taking part in wargames on US territory for the first time. As reported by TOI earlier, India is shelling out around Rs 100 crore to take part in the world-famous Red Flag air combat manoeuvres, which are being touted as a new high in Indo-US military ties. IAF fighter pilots have certainly proved more than a match for American, French, British and other pilots in combat exercises over the last few years. During the Indo-US "Cope India" exercise at Gwalior in February 2004, the first such air wargames between the two countries since 1963, for instance, IAF pilots flying Sukhois and other jets had simply outgunned USAF pilots in their F-15C fighters. Soon after, IAF pilots had flown Jaguar strike fighters all the way to Alaska to participate in the multinational Cope-Thunder exercise there. Then, in November 2005, the next Cope India exercise at Kalaikunda in West Bengal saw IAF fighters successfully take on the American F-16s.
