Article

2008-07-13 India-Pakistan

Indian Su-30 fighters depart for Red Flag exercise in Nevada

An Indian air force contingent with eight Sukhoi Su-30MKI combat aircraft, two Ilyushin Il-78 air-to-air refuellers and one Il-76 transport has left India to participate in the 9-23 August multinational exercise Red Flag '08 at the US Air Force's Nellis AFB in Nevada.

It will be the first time that the Russian-made Su-30MKI will participate in multinational manoeuvres involving US and other NATO fighters. India expects to spend around Rp1 billion ($23 million) on its participation in the air combat exercise.

Sources in India's state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation meanwhile say that preparations are in full swing for the first full test firing of the nation's home-grown Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile from an Su-30.

DRDO sources say the weapon will interrupt targets at speeds of Mach 1.2 to M1.4, but have not revealed the missile's range. The Astra - intended to arm aircraft such as the Dassault Mirage 2000 and RSK MiG-29 in air force service - has already undergone ground tests to check its avionics, electronics and other subsystems. The DRDO has also hinted at its intention to develop hypersonic weapon systems.

Posted by john frum 2008-07-13 08:52|| || Front Page|| [11137 views ] Top

#1 ...Oh, MAN...would I give anything to be on the ramp at Nellis when those guys show up. I guarantee they'll be treated like royalty.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2008-07-13 11:15|| 2008-07-13 11:15|| Front Page Top

#2 It'll be interesting to see how the Su-30 fares against other aircraft, most notably the F-16, the F-16, and maybe the F-35. I understand it's a very advanced and stealthy aircraft itself (designed to go up against the F-16?).

Posted by FOTSGreg">FOTSGreg 2008-07-13 12:21|| 2008-07-13 12:21|| Front Page Top

#3 Prior to this Exercise, the IAF contingent would be working up at Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho, US from 17 Jul 08 till 07 Aug 08. At Mountain Home, the IAF contingent would ready to fly with the F-16s & F-15s of USAF.

RED FLAG PARTICIPANTS
July 2008

Participating units are subject to change at any time.

Red Air
F-15s and F-16s, Nellis AFB, Nev.

Blue Air
F-15s, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
F-5s, Brazilian Air Force

Air-To-Ground
B-52s, Minot AFB, N.D.
F-16s, Turkish Air Force
Gripens, Swedish Air Force
F-16s, Hill AFB, Utah

Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses
EA-6Bs, NAS Whidbey Island, Wash.

Command and Control; Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance
E-3, Tinker AFB, Okla.
E-3, NATO

Air Refueling
KC-135s, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
KC-135s, Turkish Air Force
KC-137, Brazilian Air Force

_______________________________

RED FLAG PARTICIPANTS
August 2008

Participating units are subject to change at any time.

Red Air
F-15s and F-16s, Nellis AFB, Nev.

Blue Air
F-15s, Jacksonville, Fla.
F-15s, Eglin AFB, Fla.
Rafale', French Air Force

Air-To-Ground
Rafale', French Air Force
F-15s, Nellis AFB, Nev.
SU-30s, Indian Air Force
F-15Ks, Republic of Korea Air Force

Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses
EA-6Bs, NAS Whidbey Island, Wash.
F-16s, Nellis AFB, Nev.
F-16s, Eglin AFB, Fla.
EC-130Hs, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.

Command and Control; Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance
E-3s, Tinker AFB, Okla.

Airlift
C-130s, French Air Force
C-17s, McChord AFB, Wash.

Air Refueling
KC-135s, unit to be determined
IL-76/78, Indian Air Force

Posted by john frum 2008-07-13 13:38|| 2008-07-13 13:38|| Front Page Top

#4 wonder if the Indians will just park their birds and trust US security to prevent anyone from taking an unathorized peek.

Posted by Cheart Black1069 2008-07-13 15:50|| 2008-07-13 15:50|| Front Page Top

#5 Blue Air
F-15s, Jacksonville, Fla.
?

Posted by .5MT 2008-07-13 16:03|| www.cybernations.net]">[www.cybernations.net] 2008-07-13 16:03|| Front Page Top

#6 wonder if the Indians will just park their birds and trust US security to prevent anyone from taking an unathorized peek.

Nope. They have included a "Garud" squad for aircraft security

Posted by john frum 2008-07-13 16:11|| 2008-07-13 16:11|| Front Page Top

Posted by john frum 2008-07-13 16:32|| 2008-07-13 16:32|| Front Page Top

#8 And TOP GUN?

Posted by JosephMendiola 2008-07-13 21:18|| 2008-07-13 21:18|| Front Page Top

#9 Say what ya want, the Russians sure do make good looking fighter aircraft.

But give me ugly that works, any day (I love the A-10 as does any grunt).

Posted by OldSpook 2008-07-13 21:36|| 2008-07-13 21:36|| Front Page Top

#10 It is very hard to make an ugly airplane that will fly. And the A-10 does not make that list.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2008-07-13 21:42|| 2008-07-13 21:42|| Front Page Top

#11 The A-10 is a pretty bird.

Posted by badanov 2008-07-13 21:52|| http://www.freefirezone.org]">[http://www.freefirezone.org] 2008-07-13 21:52|| Front Page Top

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