Defence

An Indian air force detachment of two Sukhoi Su-30MKI multirole fighters and a supporting Ilyushin Il-78 tanker were among the star attractions at this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo.

At Fairford following their participation in the first ever bilateral exercise involving the Indian air force in the UK, the aircraft were part of a major detachment which was based at the Royal Air Force’s Waddington airbase in Lincolnshire for almost two weeks from 2 July. This included a further four Su-30s sent to the UK to participate in exercise ‘Indra Dhanush’, where the aircraft flew as part of a joint air package with RAF Panavia Tornado F3 and Eurofighter Typhoon interceptors.

All of the Indian fighters participated in the manouevres, which usually included two sorties per aircraft each day, says Sqn Ldr S V Munje, a pilot from the air force’s 30 Sqn at Pune air station. The Indian aircraft flew with support from their own tanker, but made use of the RAF’s Boeing E-3D Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft as part of a composite package, he says.

In addition to the two Su-30s on the ground at RIAT, a third example conducted a brief flying display at the show on 14 July before returning to Waddington. The entire Indian detachment – which totals around 200 personnel – will leave the UK on 17 July at the start of a four-day return journey which will include stops in Greece and Qatar, says Munje.

Rated by the Indian air force as having been a major success, the Indra Dhanush exercise looks set to be one of the highlights of what is also the 75th year since the service’s creation.