Article Posted on : - Aug 11, 2008

NEW DELHI (BNS): The Indian Air Force makes its debut at the world's most advanced and challenging air combat exercise, as its Sukhoi-30 fighters streaks the skies over the Nevada deserts of the US starting Monday.

The IAF contingent comprising the cutting edge SU-30 MKI fighters, mid-air refulers and other support systems is on the largest ever foreign deployment of air force. India's participation started on Monday.

“The world is watching us, so let's show them what we are made up of,” IAF contingent commander Group Captain D Choudhury told his team of pilots flying the eight SU-30
MKI fighters, two IL-78 air-to-air refuellers and an IL-76 heavy lift transport aircraft.

“We have trained long and hard for this day. It is time to showcase our professionalism,” Choudhury was quoted by a participating IAF pilot as having told the team at the US base ahead of the training exercise considered important because India is included among some very important allies. South Korean and French pilots are also expected to take part.

Altogether 247 IAF warriors had reached Nellis a couple of days ago for the NATO exercise after their training and practice at the Idaho air base. The Indian Sukhoi fighter pilots will test their capabilities against the US and NATO air forces' F-16s and F-15s
in a complex and advanced network centric operations – the toughest test for flying machines and men -- during the two-week long exercise.

The “Red Forces” would be represented by the F-15s and F-16s aircraft of the 64th and 65th “Aggressor” squadrons of the USAF from Nellis. The exercises are not designed to target any specific country or threat, but to test how the forces would work together during large scale missions, said Capt. Marcus Wilson, team chief for the exercises.