India and the United States (US) will be taking part in a two-day air-combat exercise in the Indian Ocean on June 23 and 24 amid aggressive Chinese military posturing in the South China Sea, the Indo-Pacific, and the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh.
National security experts interpret this exercise as ‘an indication of the growing congruence in defence and military partnership between the two countries.”
In a press release, the Indian Defence Ministry said, “As part of a strategic outreach exercise with the defence forces of friendly foreign countries in the Indian Ocean Region, the Indian Air Force will participate in operational engagements with the US Navy in an exercise to be carried out with Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group (CSG) on June 23 and 24.” “This engagement with the US offers one more opportunity to undertake joint operations in the maritime domain with a friendly foreign power”, the statement read.
The US Navy Carrier Strike Group, consisting of the USS Ronald Reagan, is presently deployed in the Indian Ocean, south of the Indian subcontinent. The USS Ronald Reagan is among the most advanced aircraft carriers globally and one of the ten only carriers in its elite class.
During the exercise, the Indian Air Force will operate from four operational command bases with its fleet consisting of Jaguars and Su-30 MKI fighters equipped with the state of the art Airborne Warning and Control System, the Airborne Early Warning And Control System and Air-To-Air Refueller Aircraft. The American fleet will consist of F-18 fighter jets aircraft.
The air combat drill is the latest of the many exercises the US has conducted in the Indo-Pacific in recent months. Its increased military congruence with India is an effort to deter China from its ambitious territorial expansion tendencies in the region.
India and US Begin Air-Combat Exercise in Indian Ocean
India and the US kick start a two-day air combat exercise in the Indian Ocean. The drills come amid increasing Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific
June 23, 2021
SOURCE: BUSINESS INSIDER