IAF Exercise: Today is the second day of the mega maneuvers of the Air Force in the Eastern Sector near the border of China amidst the tussle over the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh. Due to the maneuvers, fighter jets and attack helicopters flew over the border overnight. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has started maneuvers with Rafale fighter jets on Thursday. All frontline fighter jets of the Airforce and all other weapons deployed in the area are involved in the two-day mega exercise. On Thursday, several fighter jets including Rafale were seen flying in the sky over LAC. At the same time, on Friday also the Airforce will show its might.
In a tweet regarding this maneuver, the IAF said that along with 36 Rafale jets, the last force also joined. The IAF had inducted the Rafale aircraft in its 101 Squadron of the Eastern Air Command in Hasimara in July last year. The first Rafale squadron with around 18 jets is based at Ambala Air Base.
Sukhoi-30 MKI will also be involved in maneuvers
Sources said, “The French-made jet joined the second Rafale squadron at Hasimara, which increased its strength to 18 aircraft. To be a part of the mega air exercise.”
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An Indian Air Force official said, “The exercise was planned long ago and is not related to the recent developments in the Tawang area.”
Border standoff at LAC after more than 30 months
At the same time, on Monday, the Indian Army said that soldiers from both sides clashed with each other on the LAC in the Tawang sector and some personnel from both sides suffered minor injuries due to the face-off. In eastern Ladakh, after more than 30 months, both the sides came face to face regarding the border standoff.
Indian Airforce launched fighter jets in maneuvers
A source said that all frontline air bases and some major advanced landing grounds in the northeast are ready to join the exercise. The Army and the Indian Air Force have been maintaining a high state of operational readiness along the LAC in the Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim sector for more than two years following the eastern Ladakh standoff. The IAF has carried out fighter jets in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh last week following increasing air activity by China on its side of the LAC.
