Feb16-2004: its official Su30K -vs- F15C

http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitems.asp?ID=IEH20040103131939&Title=Top+Stories&Topic=0

so for the first time SU30K -vs- F15C , regret to say india keeping
MKI under wraps for now. but interesting nevertheless. the
mirage2000 sqds pre-su30s attracted many of the toppers in
the fighter stream out of training.

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India, US line up best fighters for air force exercise
Sunday January 4 2004 00:00 IST
NEW DELHI: The Defence Ministry was all caution four months ago when Air Chief S. Krishnaswamy wanted to take two Su-30 MKI fighters for the show at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland alongside the World Air Chiefs’ Conference.

A month on, its fighter planes will spar with America’s best in a joint air exercise, the first in 40 years for both countries.

The Ministry, in consultation with External Affairs, had turned down Krishnaswamy’s request as it did not want to “reveal” its top air combatant to the world. Come February 16 and the IAF’s Su-30K (air defence version) will duel with American F-15C Eagle; in July, IAF’s Jaguars will be the first combat aircraft to fly to Alaska for a multilateral air exercise.

With more than 150 sorties planned over Gwalior, home to the IAF’s Battle Axe and Tiger Mirage-2000 squadrons, Exercise Cope Thunder ’04 is all that the Indian Air Force’s fighter pilots have dreamt of _ to be pitted against the best in the world and learn lessons that will prove invaluable in war.

Little wonder then that short of the SU-30 MKI, the IAF is fielding its finest fighters _ from the Mirage-2000 and SU-30K to the upgraded MiG-21 Bison, MiG-29 interceptors and MiG-27 ground attack aircraft in a strike role. The two forces will work out various war tactics through the exercises from February 16 to 26.

Day One will see IAF pilots leading the six US F-15C aircraft that will fly in from Elendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, which falls under the US Pacific Air Command. IAF planners and their USAF counterparts are known to have finalised air combat scenarios during the initial planning conference in September, 2003. A US KC-135 Hercules air-to-air refueller is also expected to escort the F-15Cs and giving the IAF an opportunity to see how the USAF functions with its refuellers.

Teams from the IAF and USAF will be designated as `Red’ and `Blue’ forces which will be pitted against each other. Fictitious international borders will be simulated for both forces to penetrate while conducting a strike mission or defend.

The field exercises will be followed by debrief sessions where pilots from both forces will compare notes. South Block sources said daylong exercises will be followed by evening gatherings at the Air Force Station bar in Gwalior.

While pilots from both air forces are slotted to fly together in twin-seater aircraft at times, the maintenance crew on ground will also get to share notes on the tarmac as aircrafts will be serviced side-by-side.

While the IAF is providing ground and logistic support, Indian Airlines has been roped in for loading and off-loading operation support.