IAF DISPATCHES TASK FORCE FOR INDRADHANUSH-IV

IAF TASK FORCE TAKES OFF FOR INDRADHANUSH-IV

The ‘Guardians of our skies’, are on a transcontinental deployment to United Kingdom. Indian Air force has dispatched a ‘task force’ led by Group Captain Ashu Srivastava to take part in the fourth edition of the Indo-UK bilateral air exercise Indradhanush. Indradhanush provides IAF and RAF the unique platform to engage in mutual operations and activities thus enhancing the mutual operational understanding. Indradhanush will witness slurry of activities engaging both the air forces in a mutual operational environment and is slated to be kicked off on July 21.

The IAF aims to demonstrate its ability to project air power in transcontinental deployment of a The task force comprises of 4 Su-30 MKI air superiority fighters, 1 IL-78 , 1 C-17 globe master and C-130J tactical airlift aircraft. The Su-30 MKI is the mainstay air superiority fighter for the IAF, the jet is renowned for its manoeuvrability. The C-17 globe master and the C-130J will be part of the planned special operations which will see the participation of IAF’s special operation wing ‘GARUD’ and the ‘SAS’. The IL-78 will act as mid-air refueling aircraft thus complementing the operational capabilities.

The exercise will be staged from three RAF airbases, RAF Coningsby will be staging the Su-30 MKI and the Euro-fighters. The C-17 and IL-78 aircraft will be operating from RAF Brize Norton which also houses the transport aircraft fleet of RAF. The C-130J tactical lift aircraft and the GARUD Special Forces will be operating from RAF Honington alongside the mythical SAS Special Forces.

The Su-30MKI and the RAF fielded Typhoon aircraft will be operated in near war scenarios and will fly in formations intercepting simulating real time threats. The Il-78 aircraft will be operating as the mid-air refueling aircraft thus enhancing the operational range of the fighter jets. The C-130J tactical lift aircraft will be used for ground assist operations and will be the platform for the paradrop of GARUDS and SAS.