IAF calls it ‘pre-planned drill’ to test combat capability. All combat aircraft based in the eastern sector and other resources deployed in the region are involved in the exercise.
New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) launched a two-day exercise over the eastern sector on Thursday, December 15, specifying it was a pre-planned drill and not a reaction to the recent border confrontation with China, a report in The Tribune, Chandigarh, says.
All combat aircraft based in the eastern sector and other resources deployed in the region are involved in the exercise.
These include fighter jets Rafale and Sukhoi-30MKI, besides Chinook, Apache and Mi-17 helicopters, air borne early warning and control systems (AEW&CS) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
All forward airbases and advanced landing grounds (ALGs) of the IAF in the north-eastern region are also included in the exercise, which is being held for the purpose of “testing the combat capability of the IAF”.
The IAF bases at Tezpur, Missamari, Chhabua, Jorhat in Assam and Hashimara and Bagdogra in West Bengal are participating in the mega exercise.
IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Ashish Moghe said the exercise “was pre-planned” although the drill is taking place within days of the clash between the Indian Army and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China along the LAC in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh.
Before the recent clash between India and China near Tawang, Chinese drones had showed signs of positively aggressive movement towards the Indian positions on the LAC.
Last Rafale jet arrives
The last of the 36 Rafale fighter jets landed in India on Wednesday, Deccember 14, night. The planes have been based at Ambala and Chhabua in the North-East.
India had announced a NOTAM (notice to airmen) for a no-fly zone over the North-East for December 15-16.
The IAF bases at Tezpur, Missamari, Chhabua, Jorhat in Assam and Hashimara and Bagdogra in West Bengal are participating in the mega exercise.
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