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| India-Pakistan |
| Indian Su-30 fighters depart for Red Flag exercise in Nevada |
| 2008-07-13 |
| An Indian air force contingent with eight Sukhoi Su-30MKI combat aircraft, two Ilyushin Il-78 air-to-air refuellers and one Il-76 transport has left India to participate in the 9-23 August multinational exercise Red Flag '08 at the US Air Force's Nellis AFB in Nevada. It will be the first time that the Russian-made Su-30MKI will participate in multinational manoeuvres involving US and other NATO fighters. India expects to spend around Rp1 billion ($23 million) on its participation in the air combat exercise. Sources in India's state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation meanwhile say that preparations are in full swing for the first full test firing of the nation's home-grown Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile from an Su-30. DRDO sources say the weapon will interrupt targets at speeds of Mach 1.2 to M1.4, but have not revealed the missile's range. The Astra - intended to arm aircraft such as the Dassault Mirage 2000 and RSK MiG-29 in air force service - has already undergone ground tests to check its avionics, electronics and other subsystems. The DRDO has also hinted at its intention to develop hypersonic weapon systems. |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #11 The A-10 is a pretty bird. |
| Posted by: badanov 2008-07-13 21:52 |
| #10 It is very hard to make an ugly airplane that will fly. And the A-10 does not make that list. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-07-13 21:42 |
| #9 Say what ya want, the Russians sure do make good looking fighter aircraft. But give me ugly that works, any day (I love the A-10 as does any grunt). |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2008-07-13 21:36 |
| #8 And TOP GUN? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-07-13 21:18 |
| #7 |
| Posted by: john frum 2008-07-13 16:32 |
| #6 wonder if the Indians will just park their birds and trust US security to prevent anyone from taking an unathorized peek. Nope. They have included a "Garud" squad for aircraft security  |
| Posted by: john frum 2008-07-13 16:11 |
| #5 Blue Air F-15s, Jacksonville, Fla. ? |
| Posted by: .5MT 2008-07-13 16:03 |
| #4 wonder if the Indians will just park their birds and trust US security to prevent anyone from taking an unathorized peek. |
| Posted by: Cheart Black1069 2008-07-13 15:50 |
| #3 Prior to this Exercise, the IAF contingent would be working up at Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho, US from 17 Jul 08 till 07 Aug 08. At Mountain Home, the IAF contingent would ready to fly with the F-16s & F-15s of USAF. RED FLAG PARTICIPANTS July 2008 Participating units are subject to change at any time. Red Air F-15s and F-16s, Nellis AFB, Nev. Blue Air F-15s, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom F-5s, Brazilian Air Force Air-To-Ground B-52s, Minot AFB, N.D. F-16s, Turkish Air Force Gripens, Swedish Air Force F-16s, Hill AFB, Utah Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses EA-6Bs, NAS Whidbey Island, Wash. Command and Control; Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance E-3, Tinker AFB, Okla. E-3, NATO Air Refueling KC-135s, Fairchild AFB, Wash. KC-135s, Turkish Air Force KC-137, Brazilian Air Force _______________________________ RED FLAG PARTICIPANTS August 2008 Participating units are subject to change at any time. Red Air F-15s and F-16s, Nellis AFB, Nev. Blue Air F-15s, Jacksonville, Fla. F-15s, Eglin AFB, Fla. Rafale', French Air Force Air-To-Ground Rafale', French Air Force F-15s, Nellis AFB, Nev. SU-30s, Indian Air Force F-15Ks, Republic of Korea Air Force Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses EA-6Bs, NAS Whidbey Island, Wash. F-16s, Nellis AFB, Nev. F-16s, Eglin AFB, Fla. EC-130Hs, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. Command and Control; Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance E-3s, Tinker AFB, Okla. Airlift C-130s, French Air Force C-17s, McChord AFB, Wash. Air Refueling KC-135s, unit to be determined IL-76/78, Indian Air Force |
| Posted by: john frum 2008-07-13 13:38 |
| #2 It'll be interesting to see how the Su-30 fares against other aircraft, most notably the F-16, the F-16, and maybe the F-35. I understand it's a very advanced and stealthy aircraft itself (designed to go up against the F-16?). |
| Posted by: FOTSGreg 2008-07-13 12:21 |
| #1 ...Oh, MAN...would I give anything to be on the ramp at Nellis when those guys show up. I guarantee they'll be treated like royalty. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2008-07-13 11:15 |