India's eight frontline Sukhoi-30MKI fighters were the cynosure of all eyes at the Nellis US Air Force base in Nevada
Media Release
Aug. 11, 2008

Tearing into the sky as part of the Blue Forces to defend against the "aggressor" Red Forces of F-15s and F-16s on Monday, India's eight frontline Sukhoi-30MKI fighters were the cynosure of all eyes at the Nellis US Air Force base in Nevada.

This, after all, is the very first time that the frontline Russian-origin Sukhoi-30MKI fighters are taking part in war games on US territory. "We have trained long and hard for this day," said IAF contingent commander Group Captain D Choudhury, in a pep talk to his ''air warriors'' before the world-famous ''Red Flag'' air combat exercise kicked off in Nevada.

"It's time to showcase our professionalism. I have total faith and confidence in you. The world is watching us. So, gentlemen let's show them what we are made up of," he added.

IAF fighter pilots have certainly proved more than a match for American, French, British and other pilots in combat exercises over the last few years. But Red Flag is in a different league altogether, with IAF's six Sukhois, two IL-78 mid-air refuelers and an IL-76 heavy-lift aircraft flying over 120 sorties just in the "work-up" phase.

"Red Flag will provide a realistic war situation, in which the Blue Forces pilots will have all possible odds ''thrown'' at them," IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Mahesh Upasani told TOI over the phone from US. IAF pilots in their Sukhois, along with French ones in their spanking new Rafale fighters, South Korean ones in their F-15K jets and a large USAF element will constitute the "friendly" Blue Forces during the two-week multi-nation exercise.

"The Red Forces, in turn, will be represented by F-15s and F-16s of the 64th and 65th aggressor squadrons of USAF based at Nellis. The availability of a large air-to-air range, with threat replication, contributes to the tremendous training value of the exercise," said Upasani.

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