Su-30 MKI Jets To Train With F-18 Super Hornets As Indian Air Force Holds Drills With US Navy

The Indian air force with Su-30 MKI jets and the US Ronald Reagan carrier strike group will begin a joint military exercise off the southern tip of the Indian state of Kerala state on Wednesday.

“The exercise will be carried out south of Thiruvananthapuram, on the western seaboard, over two days,” the Indian defense ministry said in a statement.

India will field Jaguar attack jets, Su-30 MKI fighters, AWACS and AEW&C spy planes and a refueller aircraft. The US air fleet will be made up of field F-18 fighters and E-2C Hawkeye AEW&C aircraft.

“The Indian Naval warships along with aircraft from Indian Navy and Indian Air Force will be engaged in joint multi-domain operations with the Carrier Strike Group comprising Nimitz class aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan, Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Halsey and Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh,” the Indian Navy said in a statement.

File:RAAF (A44-222) FA 18F Super Hornet landing.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
File Image:RAAF (A44-222) FA 18F Super Hornet landing – Wikimedia Commons

“Indian Navy and US Navy regularly undertake a host of bilateral and multilateral drills which underscore the shared values as partner navies, in ensuring commitment to an open, inclusive and a rule-based international order,” the Indian Navy said.

The IAF’s exercise with the United States will focus on multiple domains including improving interoperability, integrated maritime operations, enhance maritime search and rescue skills and allow the exchange of best practices in the maritime airpower domain, the Indian military said.

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