Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, August 27: At a 21-day multinational war exercise that started on Sunday in Egypt, the Indian Air Force (IAF) sent five MiG-29 combat jets, six transport aircraft and a group of its Special Forces soldiers.
In addition to the host nation and India, the US, Saudi Arabia, Greece and Qatar military personnel are taking part in the biennial tri-services exercise Bright-Star at Cairo (West) Air Base, officials stated.
The IAF is taking part in the exercise for the first time.
“The IAF contingent will consist of five MiG-29, two IL-78, two C-130 and two C-17 aircraft. Personnel from the IAF’s Garud special forces, as well as those from the Numbers 28, 77, 78 and 81 squadrons will be participating in the exercise,” the IAF said.
The Indian contingent also includes about 150 personnel of the Indian Army.
“The objective of the exercise is to practice planning and execution of joint operations,” the IAF said in a statement.
“Besides leading to the formation of bonding across borders, such interactions also provide a means to further strategic relations between participating nations,” it said.
It added that India and Egypt have had “exceptional relationship and deep cooperation wherein the two jointly undertook development of aero-engine and aircraft in 1960s and training of Egyptian pilots was done by Indian counterparts.”
