Cope India Exercise Between India and US Air Force to Start

This exercise involves engaging in dogfights with the US Air Force's F-15 Strike Eagle fighter jets. Originally scheduled to take place earlier but postponed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, this edition of the Cope India series marks a significant event as it is the first in four years. The American F-15s will be flown from a Pacific air base to the Kalaikunda air base in West Bengal, where they will engage in simulated combat with India's formidable Su-30MKIs.

In recent years, the Indian Air Force has actively participated in various multinational exercises, including EX Desert Flag in the UAE and Ex Cobra Warrior in the UK, with a focus on enhancing existing capabilities, aircrew tactics, and force employment to further strengthen the US-India cooperation. Cope India, which originated in 2004 as a fighter training exercise held at Gwalior air station, has since evolved to include a wide range of training activities, such as subject matter expert exchanges, air mobility training, airdrop training, and large-force exercises, in addition to fighter-training exercises. The previous edition of this prestigious exercise was conducted in 2019. The upcoming Cope India exercise promises to be a challenging and valuable training opportunity for the Indian and US air forces, further enhancing their interoperability and cooperation. Overall, it is set to be an important event for advancing the capabilities and readiness of both participating air forces. So, it's eagerly awaited by aviation enthusiasts and defense experts alike.