Cope Air Force Exercise Between USA and India

From December 3 to 14, 2018, the US Air Force & Indian Air Forces took part in India (CI-18) Exercise Cope in Air Station Kalaikunda & Air Station Arjan Singh throughout India. Operation CI18 is a long-running bilateral field training mission conducted by the US Pacific Air Forces to improve US-Indian cooperation through increasing existing skills, crew techniques, and force deployment. Cope India started as a military training drill in Air Station Gwalior in India in 2004. In contrast to fighter-training activities, the Exercise Cope now includes subject material specialist interactions, airspeed training, airdropping training, and large-force operations. 

At Cope India 2018, Both Indian and Us Air Forces Exchange Knowledge

During the current COPE India 2018 operation, the Indian and US air forces benefited from one other’s best practices.

In Kalaikunda Airbase, COPE 18, a combined bilateral operation between the Indian and US air forces, occurs. The training began on December 3 and will last until December 14.

According to Air Commodore S Anthony, “At Kalaikunda Air Force Station, there really are twelve F15 fighter aircraft from the US Air Force engaging in the operation, as well as ten Sukhoi 30s, six Jaguars, and five Mirage 2000s from the Indian Air Force. The 67 Fighting Squadron, commonly recognised as the Fighting Cocks, has been transported in by the US Air Force from their station in Japan.”

Delion stated that he’s also a Lieutenant Colonel in the American Air Force. “This was an interesting feeling, and I believe that this operation will assist all of us in understanding things differently and help us develop as individuals. As an organisation, it also assists us in growing and improving.”

“The two air forces were executing air defence systems, air combat, plus assault exercises as part of the training, as well as upkeep routines,” said Air Commodore JS Mann, who is also the Exercise Director.

Even though both forces behave differently and use distinct terminology, they have the same aim of gaining or protecting the objective, according to US Air Force Lt Colonel Dillon. “When we find out the distinctions, we communicate them quickly, and once we’re in the air, we perform quite effectively,” he explained.

Air Forces of the US and India

The Indian Aviation Force (IAF) and also the United States Air Force (USAF) have started a 12-day bilateral cooperative air exercise called Exercise Cope India 2019 (CI19), which will involve transport planes and jet fighters through both countries.

The Cope India 2019 operation takes part in two Indian air force bases in Bengal: Kalaikunda & Panagarh.

CI19 is a military training mission conducted by the US Pacific Airpower to improve cooperative ties between the two countries.

The pilots will participate in subject material specialist exchanges, airspeed preparation, airdropping training, plus large-force operations, among other tasks.

Key points of Cope India

• The Cope India Operation seems to be a sequence of international air defence exercises performed on and above Indian soil by the Indian Air Force and even the U.S. Air Force.
• The first such operation took months of planning between February 16 – February 27, 2004, somewhere at an airbase in Gwalior, with US Air Force evacuating soldiers and aeroplanes on February 27.
• Test flight practice, demonstrations, and lectures on aviation-related topics were all part of the exercise.
• There have also been media appearances & social engagements between the two nations’ forces.
• According to published reports, US representatives considered it a “good experience”, which resulted in several preconceptions about US aviation tactics being re-evaluated.
• The exercises were replicated in 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2018.

Conclusion

The US Air Force & Indian Air Forces took part in Cope India (CI-18) operation in Air Station Kalaikunda & Air Station Arjan Singh throughout India. Exercise CI18 is a long-running bilateral field training mission conducted by the US Pacific Air Forces to improve US-Indian cooperation. The Indian Aviation Force (IAF) and also the United States Air Force (USAF) have started a 12-day bilateral cooperative air exercise called Exercise Cope India 2019 (CI19). The operation occurs in two Indian air force bases in Bengal: Kalaikunda & Panagarh. The pilots will participate in subject material specialist exchanges, airspeed preparation, airdropping training, plus large-force operations, among other tasks.