Date:15/03/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/03/15/stories/2004031509911500.htm

National

IAF displays strike power

POKHRAN, MARCH 14. The Indian Air Force (IAF) today demonstrated its splendid strike capability in ground attack as well as air operations, while the Air Chief asserted the purpose of the exercise was training and was not intended to "send any message" to neighbouring countries.

Top frontline aircraft of the IAF, including the Sukhoi -30 MKI multi-role fighters, the Jaguar deep-penetration strike fighter, the MiG-29 air superiority fighter, the MiG-27 variable-geometry ground attack aircraft, MiG -3 ground support aircraft and the MiG -1 multi-role fighter, were deployed and engaged in different types of operations. These included counter-air operations, air defence operations, counter-surface force operations and combat surface force operations.

Demonstrating the air defence operations, a combat air patrol was flown by a pair of Su-30 fighters, defending vital national installations and culminated with the launching of two air-to-air missiles against a `decoy' target.

UNI