Exercise Cope India 23: IAF’s Sukhoi, Rafale, and Tejas to participate alongside US bombers and fighters

The second phase of the India-US bilateral air drill Exercise Cope India 23 will commence at Air Force Station Kalaikunda on Thursday (April 13, 2023). As in the first phase, personnel from the Japanese Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) will observe the exercise and interact with the two participating air forces.

This segment of Exercise Cope India 2023 will witness participation of B1B bombers of the United States Air Force (USAF). F-15 fighter aircraft of the USAF will also join the exercise subsequently. The Indian Air Force (IAF) element will include the Su-30 MKI, Rafale, Tejas and Jaguar fighter aircraft, India’s Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday.

The exercise will be supported by aerial refuellers, Airborne Warning and Control System and Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft of the IAF. The exercise will conclude on April 24, 2023.

The first phase of the exercise focused on air mobility and involved transport aircraft and Special Forces assets from both the Air Forces. Both sides will field the C-130J and C-17 aircraft, with the USAF operating an MC-130J, as well.

Like the air mobility component of the Ex Cope-India -23, this phase will also help enhance professional relations between the two air forces, while sharing the best practices between them, the Ministry of Defence said. The exercise is being held in phases at Air Force Stations Arjan Singh (Panagarh), Kalaikunda and Agra.

On the sidelines of the ongoing exercise, Commander of the US Pacific Air Forces General Kenneth S Wilsbach visited Air Force Station Kalaikunda on Tuesday. He flew a training mission in an IAF Su-30 MKI. General Wilsbach also interacted with Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian Air Force’s Eastern Air Command Marshal SP Dharkar and the exercise participants.