What’s in news?
- Five Indian Air Force (IAF) Mirage 2000 aircraft have been participating in multinational ‘Exercise Cobra Warrior’ in the United Kingdom for the past three weeks, featuring high intensity, large force, and tactical air warfighting operations.
- The original plan was to use indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, but they were already in use for another exercise, thus the Mirage 2000s were used.
Exercise Cobra Warrior:
- Exercise Cobra Warrior is the Royal Air Force’s largest air exercise, held twice a year. The exercise is intended to prepare participants for high-intensity, large-force tactical air warfare operations.
- Participant countries:
- The United Kingdom, Finland, Sweden, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Singapore are among the countries represented.
- For the first time, Finland, India, and Saudi Arabia took part in the exercise.
- This year, the IAF will take part in the exercise with five Mirage 2000 fighters, two C-17 Globemaster IIIs, and one IL-78 mid-air refueller aircraft.
Significance:
The exercise’s goal is to participate in numerous fighter aircraft engagements and learn from the best practices of other Air Forces.
Source: The Hindu, Indian Air Force Website