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 others 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.