Tejas, Sukhoi jets participate in Cope Exercise

  • April 13, 2023
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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Tejas, Sukhoi jets participate in Cope Exercise

Subject: International relations

Section: msc

Defence

Concept :

  • The Indian Air Force (IAF) fighters, including Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Rafale, SU-30MKI, and Jaguars, are set to participate in bilateral air Exercise Cope India 23 with US Air Force (USAF) F-15 fighters and B-1B long-range bombers.

Background

  • Cope India began in 2004 as a fighter training exercise held at Air Station Gwalior, India.
  • The exercise has evolved to incorporate subject matter expert exchanges, air mobility training, airdrop training and large-force exercises, in addition to fighter-training exercises.
  • The exercise showcases U.S. and India’s efforts and commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

About the exercise

  • It is a bilateral exercise between the air forces of the two countries.
  • The exercise comes amid India’s continuing three-year-long military confrontation with China in eastern Ladakh as well as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which has seen Beijing and Moscow get into a tighter strategic clinch.

Highlights of the 2023 version

  • The exercise will be conducted in two phases, with the first phase practicing the air-mobility component involving transport aircraft of both countries.
  • The IAF element will include the Su-30MKI, Rafale, Tejas, and Jaguar fighter aircraft, while Japan is taking part in the exercise as an observer.
  • The second phase of the exercise will witness the participation of B-1B bombers of USAF, and F-15 fighter aircraft of the USAF will join the exercise subsequently, according to an IAF statement.
  • The exercise will be supported by aerial refuellers, Airborne Warning and Control System, and Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft of the IAF.
Tejas