Indo-US joint air force exercise COPE India 23 concludes at Kalaikunda air force station

KALAIKUNDA: The 15-day-long bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the United States Air Force (USAF) — COPE India 23 — held at three air force stations in Panagarh, Kalaikunda and Agra culminated on Monday with a joint display and take-off of the Indian fighter aircrafts like Rafale, Sukhoi 30 MKI, LCA Tejas and Jaguar and USAF’s F-15E Strike Eagle at Kalaikunda in West Midnapore in West Bengal.

The exercise aimed to enhance mutual understanding between the two air forces focussed on enhancing mutual understanding of tactical application of air power, imbibe best practices (operations and maintenance), boost cohesion in combat operations and enrich better understanding of air operations in a large force package.
The exercise also included the presence of Japanese Air Self Defence Force aircrew, who participated in the capacity of observers.
“We had a great time flying together and training together in large force exercises as well as in smaller environments. The exercise has been extremely helpful in achieving our goal to collectively grow together to ensure regional security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region as a whole,” said USAF’s lieutenant colonel Bender Gifford.
Defence experts, however, said the joint exercise was extremely important considering the Chinese show of strength at the north eastern border of the country and will send out a strong message about India–US defence unity.
“The exercise showcased US and India's efforts and commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” a defence spokesperson said.
Officials said the bilateral exercise was the result of a document signed in 2005 with a goal for a broader US–India relationship.
“The first exercise of COPE India was conducted at Gwalior Air Force station in 2004 and then it was conducted again in 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2018. The exercise focuses on exchange of air combat employment philosophy and mutual understanding of force employment,” said IAF’s group captain Neeraj Jhamb, commanding officer of Rafale and exercise director of COPE India.
This is the first time IAF’s Rafale and India’s indigenously developed light combat aircraft Tejas participated in COPE India.
This year also marked the debut of USAF’s F-15E Strike Eagle.
Overall, the last two weeks witnessed involvement of 24 fighter aircrafts, eight transport carriers and two force multipliers.
While IAF had participation of aircrafts like Rafale, Sukhoi-30 MKI, LCA Tejas, Jaguar, C-130J, C-17, IL-76 AWACS and ERJ-145 AEW&C, USAF had flown in four F-15E Strike Eagle apart from B1B – a multi mission weapon system and military transporters like C-130J, MC-130J and C-17.
“Over-all the exercise saw participation of 564 personnel from IAF and USAF,” said Jhamb.
Monday’s concluding ceremony at Kalaikunda saw aircrafts like Rafale, Tejas, Jaguar, Sukhoi-30 and F-15E taking-off rejoin from the air force station and conduct a rejoin formation amidst cheers and applauds from a cluster of school children invited to the ceremony and family members of IAF personnel.
A special static display of the aircrafts was also in place beside the runway as the invitees as well as participating officers took the opportunity to click photographs standing in front of the prestigious jets.