US Air Force Caught Snooping Around Indian Air Force Sukhois During Exercise ‘Red Flag’!

India’s defense ties with the US may be reaching new heights, but the Air Force is keen to protect the secrets of its latest fighting machine, the Su 30MKI, from probing eyes during the high profile ‘Red Flag’ exercise presently taking place at the Nellis Air Force base in US.

The Indian Air Force has sent six Su 30MKIs for the prestigious exercise — the first time the latest fighter from the Russian stable is visiting North America — but has decided to keep the aircraft’s classified NIIP N-011M Bars radar switched off during the entire war game.

However, according to the latest news on the TV news channel, Headlines Today, two American AWACS followed the SU 30s during their approach to the American coast in international waters, trying to snoop on their Radar frequency codes. However, it was futile as the Indians had switched off their Bars radars.

It also went on to say that the Americans are hell bent on getting at the technology powering the Sukhois. An Air Marshall of the Indian Air Force has said that this would be discussed in a secret top level debriefing on their return from the U.S.


An IL-78 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) is guided along the tarmac at Mont de Marsan Airbase on route to the US for Exercise 'Red Flag 2008'.


A pair of Indian Air Force (IAF) SU-30 aircraft are refueled by an IL-78 air tanker as they fly over Mount Etna in Sicily on July 15, 2008, on route to the US for Exercise 'Red Flag 2008'.
Pics courtesy: Getty Images

But all said,

Indian Air Force Wins Acclaim at "Red Flag" Exercise in US

New Delhi, 22 August 2008.

At their maiden appearance at the world's most advanced 'Red Flag' air war games in the US, the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots have been termed as "world class" from seasoned US Air Force (USAF) air warriors.

"IAF is a world class air force with great aircraft and great leadership," Captain Marcus 'Spike' Wilson, an ace air warrior of the USAF, said at Nellis Air Base in Nevada desert, where the multinational air war games 'Exercise Red Flag' entered its final run.

From today, eight Sukhoi-30 fighters of the IAF along with Il-78 midair refuellers began their 'agni pariksha' [endurance test] to test their flying skills and machines with some of the most formidable flying machines in the world.


Aircraft maintenance Engineers with the Indian Air Force conduct post-flight maintenance on an SU-30MKI fighter following a Red Flag mission at Nellis Air Force Base.
Photo by Airman 1st Class Ryan Whitney at Nellis Air Force Base

In an atmosphere of most potent surface-to-air missiles such as SA-2, 3, 6 and 8, short range quick reaction missiles and constant air surveillance from AWACS and satellites, the IAF fighters took on NATO's leading fighters like Rafale, F-16 Fighting Falcons and F-15 Tomcats in a gruelling two day-and-night manoeuvres, which stretched the fine pilots' skills to the limit.

It’s wonderful to know that the Strategic cooperation between the US and India is growing from strength to strength, but some aspects are best kept secret!

Cheers!

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[edit on 26-8-2008 by mikesingh]

hey wg cdr p nagpal should be dismissed from service