IAF at Red Flag / Nellis AFB 2008

andy B · Post by **andy B** » 11 Aug 2008 12:15

Interesting little fact abt the Prowler is that its affectionately also called the Queer although its pilots and ECM operators dont share the same name...hahaha.

The latest prowler is using the Cap-3 ALQ-99 suite. Its also testing the version that's going to be fitted on the EA-18G Growler.

I had read somewhere that during the Yugoslav war in the mid/late 90's the Prowlers were escorting all the major strike packages and there werent enough of em around which lead Unkil to mod a B-52 as a standoff jammer. The war finished before the mod. Buff could be pushed into service. Unkil is still exploring the use of Buff as an advanced stand off jammer......

jahaju · Post by **jahaju** » 11 Aug 2008 12:20

What is the patch below the weapons officers cockpit? Has something been painted over on the mki's?

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 11 Aug 2008 12:43

the patches on the Su30 appear to be unpainted panels. the one above the gun port below the rear cockpit, and also in the rear engine housing. most likely because heat from these sources damages the low vis paint

the dark/light grey in the ROKAF eagle (and Unkil's) is as Singha says I think, plus some element of disruptive camoflague. on the IAF aircraft, the roundels are actually highly visible. I wonder if in wartime they will be painted over, like in '71!

Ajay K · Post by **Ajay K** » 11 Aug 2008 13:33

Folks, why should the weapon's operator have the HUD on Ramba? F-15E, Rafaele do not have HUD for the weapon's operator.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 11 Aug 2008 14:11

atleast on the F15E I dont see how the WSO can fly the plane - both are sitting on
the same level, while in Su it is sloped such that the WSO has a very decent front view.
maybe the HUD helps in doing some WSO tanks better...

Kakarat · Post by **Kakarat** » 11 Aug 2008 14:27

Ex Red Flag Begins - IAF's LARGEST EVER OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT GETS INTO ACTION
The tough and prestigious Exercise red flag formally began at Air Force Base Nellis, Nevada USA on 10 Aug 08 with inaugural briefings & mission planning by the participating Air Forces. 09 Aug was the day of lead in preparations.

The Red Flag 08 has the participation of IAF with eight Su-30s, two IL-78 tankers an IL-76 aircraft & 247 Air Warriors along with the French Air Force with Rafale, South Korean Air Force with F-15s & US AF with F-15s & F-16s. IAF & other visiting Air Forces along with a large USAF element would be part of the Blue Forces (friendly) which would engage in combat with the Red Forces. The Red Forces are the "Aggressors" with F-15s & F-16s aircraft of 64th & 65th Aggressor squadrons of USAF based at Air Force Base Nellis.

Exercise Red Flag provides a realistic war situation in which the Blue Force pilots will have all possible odds `thrown` at them. Availability of a large air to air range with threat replication contributes to the tremendous training value of the exercise. The replication of the air war would see the IAF's Su-30 aircraft participating in suppression of enemy air defence (SEAD) air to air & air to ground missions. The IL-78 tankers and USAF AWACS would be in active support role. The IL-76 would undertake tactical transport operations & large force engagements operations.

During the exercise a set of Red Flag team forms the `white Force’ & use high tech instrumentation and mission debrief tools to evaluate the performance of the participants in a clinical and detached manner. During the exercise the Blue force are made to change their plans often to put them under pressure. The White Force watches the entire exercise in real time on monitor screens on ground. Kill removal (removal of the pilots and aircraft assumed shot by the enemy) makes the exercise more realistic.

Addressing the participating Air Warriors, contingent commander Gp Capt D Choudhury said" we have trained long & hard for this day. It is the time to show case our professionalism. I have total faith & confidence in you. The world is watching us, so gentlemen lets show them what we are made up of."

Dmurphy · Post by **Dmurphy** » 11 Aug 2008 16:42

Any word on the results yet? How have the Sukhois performed? and what about the Ils?

gauravjkale · Post by **gauravjkale** » 11 Aug 2008 16:45

Patience my friend. I doubt we will be getting any results any time soon....

krishnan · Post by **krishnan** » 11 Aug 2008 16:54

I dont think it has started yet.

VikramS · Post by **VikramS** » 11 Aug 2008 18:40

And I am not sure what kind of results you are looking for? Who won the 4x100m freestyle relay or the 10m shooting gold

.
At the most you will get to know something about the effectiveness of different platforms, some notable incidents etc.

Juggi G · Post by **Juggi G** » 11 Aug 2008 22:07

Rediff India
World Watches when India's Best take Flight

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 12 Aug 2008 06:18

OK you impatient guys:

Sukhois shine at Red Flag exercise in US

12 Aug 2008, 0300 hrs IST,TNN

NEW DELHI: Tearing into the sky as part of the Blue Forces to defend against the "aggressor" Red Forces of F-15s and F-16s on Monday, India's eight frontline Sukhoi-30MKI fighters were the cynosure of all eyes at the Nellis US Air Force base in Nevada.

This, after all, is the very first time that the frontline Russian-origin Sukhoi-30MKI fighters are taking part in war games on US territory. "We have trained long and hard for this day," said IAF contingent commander Group Captain D Choudhury, in a pep talk to his 'air warriors' before the world-famous 'Red Flag' air combat exercise kicked off in Nevada.

"It's time to showcase our professionalism. I have total faith and confidence in you. The world is watching us. So, gentlemen let's show them what we are made up of," he added.

IAF fighter pilots have certainly proved more than a match for American, French, British and other pilots in combat exercises over the last few years. But Red Flag is in a different league altogether, with IAF's six Sukhois, two IL-78 mid-air refullers and an IL-76 heavy-lift aircraft flying over 120 sorties just in the "work-up" phase.

"Red Flag will provide a realistic war situation, in which the Blue Forces pilots will have all possible odds 'thrown' at them," IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Mahesh Upasani told TOI over the phone from US. IAF pilots in their Sukhois, along with French ones in their spanking new Rafale fighters, South Korean ones in their F-15K jets and a large USAF element, will constitute the "friendly" Blue Forces during the two-week multi-nation exercise.

"The Red Forces, in turn, will be represented by F-15s and F-16s of the 64th and 65th aggressor squadrons of USAF based at Nellis. The availability of a large air-to-air range, with threat replication, contributes to the tremendous training value of the exercise," said Upasani.

IAF, of course, is pretty sure about holding its own in this largest-ever overseas deployment for the force, even though they are not as used to the "advanced network-centricity" and AWACS (airborne warning and control system) environment as USAF.

"As the exercise progresses, Blue Forces will often be told to change their plans during mid-flight to put them under pressure. The 'kill removal' practice, under which aircraft assumed to have been shot down by the enemy are removed from the exercise, makes it even more realistic," he added.

As reported by TOI earlier, India is shelling out around Rs 100 crore to take part in the complex air combat manoeuvres, which are being touted as a new high in Indo-US military ties. Indian and American armed forces, incidentally, have held around 50 war games in the last seven years to build "interoperability" and learn "best practices" from each other.

Such exercises also give the two confidence that they can operate together against "a common enemy" in the future if required.

Ankur · Post by **Ankur** » 12 Aug 2008 07:06

"Common Enemy" Any Guesses ?

My vote is on TSP

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 12 Aug 2008 07:15

India to join Air Force training exercises in Nev.

August 11, 2008

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 3:31 a.m. ET

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- India's military pilots are expected to participate for the first time in Air Force training exercises above the Nevada desert, marking another step in steadily improving U.S. relations with the Asian subcontinent nation since the Sept 11 terrorist attacks.

South Korean and French pilots will also take part in the combat exercises that begin Monday and will put about 65 airplanes in the skies over two weeks, Air Force officials said.

''This particular Air Force exercise is important because India is included among some very important allies,'' said Christine Fair, a South Asia specialist at the RAND Corp., a nonprofit think tank. ''This is definitely an extension of an arc that has been mapped out since 2000, and it really signifies that what India and the United States have is a strategic relationship.''

The Indian and U.S. militaries had little interaction during the Cold War, when India was more closely aligned to the Soviet Union and the United States was seen as an ally of Pakistan, India's neighbor and rival.

But relations have improved, with increasing political, economic and military ties. The Sept. 11 attacks in the United States and the subsequent fight against terrorism brought the two sides even closer.

Military ties have expanded rapidly since then, with a series of joint exercises in the air, on land and at sea. Analysts believe that the U.S. is eager to use India as a counterbalance to China in the region.

India is also extremely worried about China's growing military and political influence in the region and has upped its military spending.

The strongest negative reaction to the joint military exercises would most likely come not from China, but from North Korea, said Dr. Jing-dong Yuan, a nonproliferation expert at the Monterey Institute of International Studies.

''Pyongyang, through its state-run news agency, the Korean Central News Agency, has consistently and passionately criticized such ventures accusing the United States of harboring hostile intentions toward North Korea,'' Yuan said. ''Beijing would likely remain reticent (about) such training since it does not see itself as directly and imminently affected by such activities.''

The Air Force exercises are not designed to target any specific country or threat, but to test how the forces would work together during large scale missions, said Capt. Marcus Wilson, team chief for the exercises.

''We will learn how our allies operate in response to similar threats,'' Wilson said in a statement. ''It will allow us to build observations to eventually learn those lessons about what it takes to integrate, talk, fly with, employ, deploy and sustain air power with places like India, Korea and France.''

Wilson said more than 1,000 people would participate in simulations ranging from bomb-dropping to hostage rescue.

A growing military alliance between the U.S. and India would be welcomed by U.S. firms eager to get a share of the arms market in India, where Russia has long been the prime supplier. India has already agreed to buy six of Lockheed's C-130J Hercules airlift aircraft for roughly $1 billion.

Boeing Corp. and Lockheed Martin are among those bidding on a $10 billion deal with India to supply 126 fighter aircraft.

------

Associated Press writer Gavin Rabinowitz contributed to this report from New Delhi.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 12 Aug 2008 07:45

Interesting take!!

Left out, Red Flag flies high

Ex Red Flag Begins

Vick · Post by **Vick** » 12 Aug 2008 08:35

NRao wrote:Interesting take!!

Left out, Red Flag flies high

India’s participation in Red Flag for the first time may be the precursor of a plan to set up an advanced test range on the Nellis model at IAF bases either in Gwalior or Kalaikunda, according to defence ministry sources in New Delhi.

Would this be an addition to TACDE or a separate body, if it comes into being?

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Aug 2008 13:07

tacde - jamnagar - its the equivalent of air war college for development of
new tactics as name suggests
aste - blr - to test new airborne gear
gwalior - only has mirages now that tacde moved out
kalaikunda - could be our future nellis for multi national exercises.
one adv is proximity to clearer airspace over the sea.

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 12 Aug 2008 14:07

Singha: TACDE is no longer in Jamnagar .The same is now at Maharajpur AFB in Gawalior(it moved from Jamnagar to Gwalior and not the other way around) which also hosts India's only EW range.

kshirin · Post by **kshirin** » 12 Aug 2008 15:28

Any videos of our pilots beating theirs?

jerry · Post by **jerry** » 12 Aug 2008 15:53

Any videos of our pilots beating theirs?

JaiS · Post by **JaiS** » 12 Aug 2008 18:30

kshirin wrote:Any videos of our pilots beating theirs?

What are you expecting when you say that and how many times in the past have you seen what you want to see for any military exercise between any two nations ?

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 12 Aug 2008 18:36

not pilots, but here may be what you want.

i.e an Indian beating an american !

kshirin · Post by **kshirin** » 13 Aug 2008 01:45

Touché!

Anurag · Post by **Anurag** » 13 Aug 2008 02:45

Where is my Mithai!!

Found these awesome videos of IAF at Nellis!!!!

Su-30MKI Launch

Su-30 MKI Recovery!!

Audio Scanner

malushahi · Post by **malushahi** » 13 Aug 2008 03:02

^^^

Great find Anurag, thanks for sharing. Go Swords/Raiders!!!

Anant · Post by **Anant** » 13 Aug 2008 06:47

If those videos do not move you or make your hairs stand on end, check for a pulse and a heart rate because you will be dead. I need to archive those videos. That is awesome with a capital A. I am just astounded how India has come so far so quickly. Keep it up. Nice finds. Totally awesome. I know that quiteness and stealth is critical but the sound of those engines on the flankers (especially the 4 some) would make me get khaki pants quickly (if you know what I mean). Kick @$$. Nice. Thanks!

kshirin · Post by **kshirin** » 13 Aug 2008 14:04

Awesome! Thanks Anurag.

kedar.karmarkar · Post by **kedar.karmarkar** » 13 Aug 2008 14:35

Some of mine from tonight. Tanker callsign was Sword-21Heavy, and the Su-s which went out had Sword21, 22, and 23, and there was another Su with Raider-1.

F-15

C-130 which was the first to go out for tonight -

- Kedar

krishnan · Post by **krishnan** » 13 Aug 2008 15:30

Great pics kedar. Thanks a lot

sum · Post by **sum** » 13 Aug 2008 18:53

The Midas sure looks a stunner in thepic...
A true miss Universe if there was one!!!!

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 13 Aug 2008 20:10

http://www.nellis.af.mil/shared/media/p ... 2R-028.jpg
SB 046

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 13 Aug 2008 20:12

http://www.nellis.af.mil/photos/
more photos

pushkar.bhat · Post by **pushkar.bhat** » 15 Aug 2008 23:37

Any updates from Nellis .. This must be debrief time..

Kakarat · Post by **Kakarat** » 16 Aug 2008 00:02

http://www.nellis.af.mil/photos/

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 17 Aug 2008 08:17

looks like they are flying missions late in the night and recovering around dawn.

Shankar · Post by **Shankar** » 17 Aug 2008 10:21

while taking out terrorist targets that will be the profile i guess -they will be denied sleep because will never know when the 1000 lb bomb hits the camp

Ved · Post by **Ved** » 17 Aug 2008 20:58

Singha wrote:looks like they are flying missions late in the night and recovering around dawn.

bang on!!!

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 17 Aug 2008 21:01

Incidentally - where exactly is Nellis AFB in the US?

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 17 Aug 2008 21:14

it is within sight of las vegas city and the civilian airport. the exercise range also kind of adjoins
the secretive area51 and the groom lake afb which is off-limits ofcourse.

Rahul Shukla · Post by **Rahul Shukla** » 17 Aug 2008 21:43

shiv wrote:Incidentally - where exactly is Nellis AFB in the US?

Map from Global Security: Clicky.