IAF team in Egypt for 2nd edition of elite Tactical Leadership Programme

The month-long instructor-level exercise, with the other participants being the Air Forces of Egypt, Jordan and Greece, will facilitate sharing of best practices and interoperability at a much higher level.

An Indian Air Force contingent of SU-30MKIs and personnel is in Egypt for the second edition of the month-long Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP) at Egyptian Air Force (EAF) Weapon School, along with the Air Forces of Jordan and Greece.

This is a unique exercise different from regular military exercises as it is done at the instructor level with sharing of best practices and interoperability at a much higher level. The IAF team is led by Gwalior-based Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE), which trains the top cream of fighter pilots.

The IAF team reached Egypt on Tuesday (November 26, 2024), sources confirmed. The TLP will see exchange of ideas in the domain of large force engagements involving complex and multi-aircraft missions deepening interoperability, sources said.

In the maiden TLP in 2022, TACDE participated with three Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft and six combat instructor pilots. The induction and de-induction had involved flights of over six hours with mid-air refuelling support from the IAF and UAE Air Force. This time too, the IAF has deployed a IL-78 mid-air refueller for non-stop flight.

During the programme, IAF’s SU-30MKI jets and pilots will hone their war fighting skills and refine tactics in missions by day and night, involving air to ground and air to air combat scenarios flying alongside Egyptian F-16, Rafale and Mig-29 aircraft as well as F-16s from Greece and Jordan.

India and Egypt have significantly deepened military to military cooperation over the years. Cooperation between the two Air Forces dates back to the 1960s when Gp. Capt. Kapil Bhargava, an IAF Test Pilot, test flew the Egyptian prototype of the Helwan HA-300 with Test Pilots from the Egyptian Air Force. This was followed by Indian Qualified Flying Instructors training young Egyptian pilots, a programme that continued into the 1980s.

Published - November 28, 2024 09:50 pm IST