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Indian Air Force - News Folder - April 2004
Re: Indian Air Force - News Folder - April 2004
Were training for US trip
[Hindustan Times, 04 April 2004]
Chandigarh: The two Jaguars belonging to Ambala air base, which crashed near Sonmarg on April 2, are believed to have been on a training sortie for taking part in Exercise Cope Thunder 2004 to be held in USA in June this year. Air Force sources said the aircraft were unarmed and were taking part in a training regimen over the Kargil-Dras-Sonmarg area in order to familiarise themselves with the terrain in which they would be flying in USA on Exercise Cope Thunder.
The joint exercise between the Indian and the US Air Force will take place in Alaska at Eielson Air Base, which falls under the US Air Force Pacific Command. This would be the first time that Jaguar aircraft would be taking part in such an exercise overseas, sources said. Air Force officers at Ambala air base were tightlipped about the cause behind the crash but there was speculation that the two aircraft collided in mid-air. This is the second crash involving Jaguar aircraft in the past couple of months. Earlier, a Wing Commander had lost his life in February this year while on a training sortie in a Jaguar prior to Exercise Vayu Shakti in Pokharan.
A spokesperson for Air HQs in New Delhi, when contacted, said the Jaguar aircraft were on a training mission and declined to comment on their involvement in training for the joint exercise. A total of four aircraft were initially part of the training flight from Srinagar to Sonmarg, belonging to the No. 5 Squadron of Indian Air Force, and included the Commanding Officer of the Squadron. Around 24 Jaguar aircraft have crashed ever since they were inducted in the Indian Air Force.
[Hindustan Times, 04 April 2004]
Chandigarh: The two Jaguars belonging to Ambala air base, which crashed near Sonmarg on April 2, are believed to have been on a training sortie for taking part in Exercise Cope Thunder 2004 to be held in USA in June this year. Air Force sources said the aircraft were unarmed and were taking part in a training regimen over the Kargil-Dras-Sonmarg area in order to familiarise themselves with the terrain in which they would be flying in USA on Exercise Cope Thunder.
The joint exercise between the Indian and the US Air Force will take place in Alaska at Eielson Air Base, which falls under the US Air Force Pacific Command. This would be the first time that Jaguar aircraft would be taking part in such an exercise overseas, sources said. Air Force officers at Ambala air base were tightlipped about the cause behind the crash but there was speculation that the two aircraft collided in mid-air. This is the second crash involving Jaguar aircraft in the past couple of months. Earlier, a Wing Commander had lost his life in February this year while on a training sortie in a Jaguar prior to Exercise Vayu Shakti in Pokharan.
A spokesperson for Air HQs in New Delhi, when contacted, said the Jaguar aircraft were on a training mission and declined to comment on their involvement in training for the joint exercise. A total of four aircraft were initially part of the training flight from Srinagar to Sonmarg, belonging to the No. 5 Squadron of Indian Air Force, and included the Commanding Officer of the Squadron. Around 24 Jaguar aircraft have crashed ever since they were inducted in the Indian Air Force.