This is gonna be hot!
Singapore, IAF to conduct joint exercises
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ MONDAY, JUNE 28, 2004 05:20:58 AM
NEW DELHI: Come September, the air forces of India and Singapore will join hands to test each otherÂ’s preparedness, as the south-east Asian island nation joins the growing band of countries wishing to go in for joint exercise with the Indian Air Force.
The IAF, which has already earned the respect and admiration of the US Air Force, arguably the best in the world, after the joint-exercise between the two countries at Gwalior earlier this year, will pit a combination of MiG-21s, MiG-23s, Jaguars and Mirage-2000 fighter aircraft against the F-16 Fighting Falcons of the Republic of Singapore Air Force during the exercise scheduled to be held in the first half of September this year.
While the main exercise is likely to be held at the Gwalior air base, the RSAF, according to defence ministry sources, may also get the nod to test their prowess at Pokharan range near Jaisalmer.
Both India and Singapore are part of the multi-national joint exercise being held in Alaska between July 15-30. While the IAF will get a chance to fly their Jaguars alongside the F-16s of the USAF and the RSAF during the exercise, the September show will provide the first opportunity to the Indian pilots and engineers to familiarise themselves with the famed F-16s _supposed to be the one of the most sophisticated and advanced multi-role fighter aircraft in the world, which currently forms the core of the might of the air forces of many countries, including Pakistan.
The bilateral exercise, which is seen as being of immense training value by the IAF, will be the first between the two countries. After the US, UK and France, Singapore will become the fourth country in the world to go in for joint exercise with the IAF.
The IAF is likely to go to France next year for joint exercise _a move that will essentially be a reciprocatory gesture by the former. The French Air Force had participated in a similar show at Gwalior early last year.