Categories: Defence

US and Indian Air Force to engage in ‘Cope India’ fighter training exercise

Next week, India’s Sukhoi-30s, which are made in Russia, will participate in an exercise named ‘Cope India’ that involves dogfighting with American F-15 Strike Eagle fighter jets. The exercise was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is taking place after a four-year gap.

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The upcoming Cope India series of wargames will feature India’s Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft engaging in dogfights with the US Air Force’s F-15 Strike Eagle fighter jets. The exercise, which was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, will take place after a gap of four years. The American F-15s will be brought from a Pacific air base to Kalaikunda air base in West Bengal, where the Indian Air Force’s Su-30MKIs will face them in combat. The Indian Air Force has participated in various multi-national exercises recently, including EX Desert Flag in the UAE and Ex Cobra Warrior in the UK, with a focus on building on existing capabilities, aircrew tactics, and force employment to enhance US-India cooperation.

About the Cope India

Cope India is a series of wargames that originated in 2004 as a fighter training exercise held at Gwalior air station. Over the years, the exercise has expanded to include a variety of training activities, including subject matter expert exchanges, air mobility training, airdrop training, and large-force exercises, in addition to fighter-training exercises. The previous edition of the exercise was held in 2019.

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