Indradhanush - II
Thread Starter
Indradhanush - II
The IAF is on its way to Waddington for Indradhanush (Rainbow). Sukhoi Su-30MKIs will exercise alongside Tornados, E-3s and the Typhoon.
To kick off, here is a link that gives details and pics of the Indian delegation.
I expect some pics from you folks too
The Rhinos Are Coming!
To kick off, here is a link that gives details and pics of the Indian delegation.
I expect some pics from you folks too
The Rhinos Are Coming!
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
The delegation is being led by Group Captain Saini, with Wg Cdr A C Chopra as the Deputy Leader .Wing Commander A K Bharti is the Commanding Officer of No.30 Sqn. His Flight Commanders, Wing Commander Asit and Assudani are part of a 20 strong Su-30 Aircrew. The Il-78/76 detachment is led by Gp Capt K Raghavendra,VM who is a highly qualified Airlift expert.
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"The IAF is sending a few Fighter Controllers to observe and even control aircraft from the RAF's AWACS aircraft."
I don't remember seeing any Indian Fighter Controllers on the 23 week long AWACS Conversion Course recently. Perhaps I could just turn up and control a couple of Typhoons as well!!
I don't remember seeing any Indian Fighter Controllers on the 23 week long AWACS Conversion Course recently. Perhaps I could just turn up and control a couple of Typhoons as well!!
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RANK
I was on a Cope Thunder in Alaska some years ago when IAF flew in Jags, Transports and Refuelling aircraft. They too were full of Gp Capts and Wg Cdrs. Did manage to see a few Indian Flt Lts, but the Senior Officer Corps far out-weighed the Junta.
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Don't knock them!
Yes the IAF can seem to be a bit top heavy on the rank front but that is because they operate a 'time' promotion system which may be likely to change in the near future. That's what some of the IAF told me during a very pleasant cocktail party during Indra Dhanush 06 anyway?
However, they are a very professional bunch who are extremely proud of their Air Force and platform capabilities so lets not knock them on this thread before they have even arrived!
I for one have a great deal of enthusiasm for the next couple of weeks and with luck I may even get to be 'in the office' when the serials are taking place.
Welcome to the IAF and I hope you enjoy OUR hospitality the way we enjoyed yours last October!
SA
However, they are a very professional bunch who are extremely proud of their Air Force and platform capabilities so lets not knock them on this thread before they have even arrived!
I for one have a great deal of enthusiasm for the next couple of weeks and with luck I may even get to be 'in the office' when the serials are taking place.
Welcome to the IAF and I hope you enjoy OUR hospitality the way we enjoyed yours last October!
SA
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ORAC:
I was told that the IAF (or at least parts of it) have promotion to gp capt on time rather than in competition. When dealing with other nations, they seem to be more interested in the experience/time you have than your actual rank.
Wensleydale:
WRT controlling in the UK, IAF FCs will not be operating on their own tickets. They will not be controlling at all outside segregated airspace, and will be screened throughout by fully-qualified FCs.
STH
Eddited to add:
Sentry Agitator beat me to it, but only just!
I was told that the IAF (or at least parts of it) have promotion to gp capt on time rather than in competition. When dealing with other nations, they seem to be more interested in the experience/time you have than your actual rank.
Wensleydale:
WRT controlling in the UK, IAF FCs will not be operating on their own tickets. They will not be controlling at all outside segregated airspace, and will be screened throughout by fully-qualified FCs.
STH
Eddited to add:
Sentry Agitator beat me to it, but only just!
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Sentry,
Oh yes, the IAF hospitality was super! I'm still carrying the scars!! On a serious note though they are a thoroughly professional and proud service and I hope we can show them as a good a time as they showed us during 06.
Oh yes, the IAF hospitality was super! I'm still carrying the scars!! On a serious note though they are a thoroughly professional and proud service and I hope we can show them as a good a time as they showed us during 06.
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SA
They may enjoy our hospitality as much as we enjoyed theirs, but ...
I sincerely hope that our hospitality even anywhere near approaches that of the Indians last year. It seems that hospitality is something we Brits are just not very good at. At least with them being here for the airshow they might get some free food and drink from the hosting tent.
Here is hoping for some better weather too, it will be something of a shock if they arrive to the weather we have had for the last few weeks.
Y_G
Welcome to the IAF and I hope you enjoy OUR hospitality the way we enjoyed yours last October!
I sincerely hope that our hospitality even anywhere near approaches that of the Indians last year. It seems that hospitality is something we Brits are just not very good at. At least with them being here for the airshow they might get some free food and drink from the hosting tent.
Here is hoping for some better weather too, it will be something of a shock if they arrive to the weather we have had for the last few weeks.
Y_G
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Thats a good sketch Gainsey."Give me the blandest thing on the menu."
I'm off to Waddo to operate the Air Ambo for the duration of the Air Show - it looks as if there'll be some interesting stuff to gawp at before I depart the field daily to our FOB. That's if I can make my way through the floods first.
Thread Starter
A press release, with the usual hyperbole in it
'EX-INDRADHANUSH 2007' GETS UNDERWAY AT UK
Waddington (UK): July 4, 2007
The second bilateral Indo-UK air exercise - 'Indradhanush-2007', involving the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Air Force (RAF), got underway here at the Royal Air Force (RAF) base, Waddington, on Monday.
The inaugural day, primarily for familiarization of the participating IAF Su-30 MKI aircrew with the flying environment in UK, saw them flying alongside RAF F3 Tornadoes of the XXV Squadron that are based at RAF Leeming, but are operating from Waddington alongside IAF Su-30 MKIs for the duration of the exercise. Also airborne were a Eurofighter Typhoon and a Hawk aircraft.
"It will be a mutual learning experience for both", said Wing Commander AK Bharti, talking of the learning values in terms of inter-operability between the two air forces after returning from a sortie, of a four-aircraft formation comprising a Su-30 MKI, F3 Tornado, Typhoon and a Hawk.
The 'airborne warning and control' (AWAC) system experience, a veritable electronic 'eye-in-the-sky' platform was also observed by few IAF personnel onboard an E3-D Sentry AWAC aircraft belonging to RAF's No. 8 Fighter Squadron, based here in Waddington. The E3-D Sentry and the F3 Tornadoes also participated in the first series of Exercise Indradhanush-2006, held at Gwalior in India, last year.
The exercise between two simulated air elements, the "Red Air" (aggressors) and the "Blue Air" (defenders) forces will have the training element for the latter. Missions comprising multiple aircraft will form some of the intrinsic training missions, some of them highly advanced and complex missions. Mediating between the two will be the "White" force, who remain neutral and whose decisions will be the last word, to mitigate differences, if any. They comprise 'observers' from both sides, and include members from the IAF's 'Tactics and Combat Development Establishment' (TACDE) and the RAF's 'Air Warfare Centre' (AWC), the premiere institutions of the two air forces, constituting the 'best-amongst-the-best' aircrew and personnel on both sides.
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But better than that, I give you....
this beautiful pic!
'EX-INDRADHANUSH 2007' GETS UNDERWAY AT UK
Waddington (UK): July 4, 2007
The second bilateral Indo-UK air exercise - 'Indradhanush-2007', involving the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Air Force (RAF), got underway here at the Royal Air Force (RAF) base, Waddington, on Monday.
The inaugural day, primarily for familiarization of the participating IAF Su-30 MKI aircrew with the flying environment in UK, saw them flying alongside RAF F3 Tornadoes of the XXV Squadron that are based at RAF Leeming, but are operating from Waddington alongside IAF Su-30 MKIs for the duration of the exercise. Also airborne were a Eurofighter Typhoon and a Hawk aircraft.
"It will be a mutual learning experience for both", said Wing Commander AK Bharti, talking of the learning values in terms of inter-operability between the two air forces after returning from a sortie, of a four-aircraft formation comprising a Su-30 MKI, F3 Tornado, Typhoon and a Hawk.
The 'airborne warning and control' (AWAC) system experience, a veritable electronic 'eye-in-the-sky' platform was also observed by few IAF personnel onboard an E3-D Sentry AWAC aircraft belonging to RAF's No. 8 Fighter Squadron, based here in Waddington. The E3-D Sentry and the F3 Tornadoes also participated in the first series of Exercise Indradhanush-2006, held at Gwalior in India, last year.
The exercise between two simulated air elements, the "Red Air" (aggressors) and the "Blue Air" (defenders) forces will have the training element for the latter. Missions comprising multiple aircraft will form some of the intrinsic training missions, some of them highly advanced and complex missions. Mediating between the two will be the "White" force, who remain neutral and whose decisions will be the last word, to mitigate differences, if any. They comprise 'observers' from both sides, and include members from the IAF's 'Tactics and Combat Development Establishment' (TACDE) and the RAF's 'Air Warfare Centre' (AWC), the premiere institutions of the two air forces, constituting the 'best-amongst-the-best' aircrew and personnel on both sides.
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But better than that, I give you....
this beautiful pic!
Just 'cos I fly air ambleeances doesn't mean I have to lose my sad spotter tendencies (the Lincs/Notts Air Amb base by the old VASS buildings has a pretty good view of the runway at EGXW):
Suspicion breeds confidence
Bet they won't fly against the Typhoon. I can't see the RAF exposing their underwear against a fully worked up opponent. The SU30s are great bits of kit. I'm not convinced the Typhoon is any better.
Thread Starter
Thank you very much, T&B!
Navaleye - why so? The Typhoon has at least a couple of aces in hand when dealing with the MKI... not to mention the fact that in some areas like BVR combat, you folks have far more experience than we do.
Navaleye - why so? The Typhoon has at least a couple of aces in hand when dealing with the MKI... not to mention the fact that in some areas like BVR combat, you folks have far more experience than we do.
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I think that you will also find that the MKI pilots will struggle in the BVR scenario as they have been told not to use their radar!
Seems strange, particularly as last October there was no restrictions on the MKI using radar when playing with F3 and AWACS on Indra Dhanush 06.
Y_G
Seems strange, particularly as last October there was no restrictions on the MKI using radar when playing with F3 and AWACS on Indra Dhanush 06.
Y_G
Thread Starter
That... is indeed strange. What kind of snooping equipment these days is so large that it wont fit inside an E-3 (okay so it is not exactly the most spacious with those terminals and all) and needs a ground station?
Oh well, I hope they get enough insights into how to team up with AWACS/AEW in operational scenarios, again something we have no experience of...
Oh well, I hope they get enough insights into how to team up with AWACS/AEW in operational scenarios, again something we have no experience of...