Cope India Brings Out Fighter Ops
Residents who live in the Indian city of Gwalior are accustomed
to the sounds of fighter-jet operations -- the noise of takeoff,
landings and sonic booms. But the roar of U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagle
aircraft in the sky above this north central Indian air force
station is something completely new. The Eagles and about 130 U.S.
airmen are in India supporting Cope India ‘04 through Feb.
25, the first bilateral dissimilar air combat training exercise
held between U.S. and Indian air forces in more than 40 years.
Following two days of familiarization flights, the F-15s joined the
Indian SU-30K Flanker, Mirage 2000, MIG-29 Fulcrum, MIG-27 Flogger
and MIG-21 Bison aircraft in a series of offensive counter-air and
defensive counter-air engagements