EXERCISE GARUDA ENTERS ITS FINAL PHASE

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Press Information Bureau Ministry of I&B <pib.kolkata@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Jun 23, 2010 at 6:10 PM
Subject: Local Release...............2

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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EXERCISE GARUDA ENTERS ITS FINAL PHASE

Kolkata   :  23 June 2010

 

The exercise Garuda 2010, of the air forces of India, France and Singapore presently underway at Istres Air Base in France has entered its final phase today. Over 60 missions have been successfully flown and the exercise would conclude on 25 Jun 2010.

 

During the exrecise, the six IAF SU-30MKIs along with the Mirage-2000-5 and Rafale and the F-16 were engaged in various air defence manouvres such as implementation of "no fly zones" and large force engagements during day and night. The SU-30 also took part in the high value air borne asset protection as well as their protection busting missions. The IL-78 refuellers of the IAF and the KC-135 refuellers of the French Air Force also participated in various missions carrying out cross refuelling (i.e. refuelling the fighters of the other air forces). Refuelling denials were practised making these missions more difficult.

 

A unique feature to which the SU-30s were subjected to was the "swing roles". The E-3 AWACS provided the radar coverage during the Exercise. The IAF special forces team "Gurad" have so far carried out two jumps each by day and night along with the French special forces.

 

The Exercise brought together the best fighting machines of the world such as the Sukhois, F16s, Rafale and Mirage-2000-5. IAF pilots flew in these cockpits and have gained tremendous learning experience. The engineers, technicians and all other members of the team have also benefitted substantially from the exercise.

 

The intensity of the Exercise has been increased gradually to enhance the understanding of the contingent members beginning with basic One-Vs-One missions and limited BVR capabilities, and then progressing to multi-aircraft strikes and counter air missions with complete BVR capability, and concluding with Large Force Engagement sorties.

 

sc/dk/kol/18:03 hrs.

 

--
Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
http://nandigramunited-banga.blogspot.com/