merisarkar news service
New Delhi, October 20, 2009
A five-day joint air exercise 'Cope India-09', between Indian Air Force (IAF) and United States Air Force (USAF) begun on Monday at Agra.
It is one of the largest airbase in Southeast Asia. The exercise is aimed at giving impetus to the existing Indo-US defence cooperation. The two countries have already organized five such air exercises since 2003.
The US ambassador Timothy J. Roemer emphasized on the role of strategic and defence cooperation as one of the key pillars in bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Mr. Roemer said, "This exercise is a perfect example of how the U.S. Air Force and the Indian Air Force are working together – sharing information, training and expertise to develop as professional forces."
The exercise will train and expose IAF air warriors to a variety of missions in joint operations in a simulated hostile scenario. The objectives for the exercise include learning about each other's operational aspects; validate procedures for operations towards internal security, airborne assault operations and NVG (night vision goggles) aided tactical operations.
Group Captain Mammen, the IAF Exercise Director, informed that one of the major component of the exercise also includes exposure to modern air delivery techniques and management of mass casualties at base and medical evaluation of critical patients by air.
A senior USAF official Col La Marche said, "Rapid insertion of troops and combat search and rescue are among the other major exercises that will be practiced."
USAF has flown-in three C-130H Hercules, one C-17 Globemaster and one C-130J Super Hercules and 180 personnel for the exercise.
The IAF has fielded three AN-32 from Central Air Command. One AN-32 each from Eastern and Southern Air Command, two Mi-17 1V from Western Air Command and one Chetak helicopter from CAC for SAR (Search and Rescue) with force strength of 270 air warriors.
