NEW DELHI: Continuing with the policy to bolster strategic ties with Gulf countries, India on Monday kicked off a bilateral air combat exercise with Oman at Jodhpur.
Oman has deployed F-16 fighters for the Eastern Bridge VI exercise from February 21 to 25. The IAF, in turn, has fielded Sukhoi-30MKIs, Jaguars and Mirage-2000s.
“This is the sixth edition of the exercise. It will provide an opportunity to enhance operational capability and interoperability between the two air forces,” an official said.
“The exercise will promote professional interaction, exchange of experiences and enhancement of operational knowledge, besides strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries,” he added.
The air combat exercise comes soon after the two countries also decided to further enhance naval cooperation during the visit of Rear Admiral Saif Bin Nasser Bin Mohsin Al Rahbi, commander of the Royal Navy of Oman, to India from Feb 13 to 17.
The two navies have been conducting the biennial maritime exercise ‘Naseem Al Bahr‘ since 1993. This exercise was last conducted off Goa in 2020 and the next edition is scheduled later this year.
India and Oman also held the Joint Military Cooperation Committee Meeting (JMCC) on bilateral defense cooperation in New Delhi on January 31.
The JMCC meeting reviewed the progress made in military-to-military engagements, including joint exercises, industry cooperation and various ongoing infrastructure projects. It decided to identify new avenues and examine areas of mutual interest for joint ventures in order to enhance defense industry cooperation. Conduct of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) exercises, involving the three services, and enhancing the scope and complexities of the existing joint exercises were also discussed. “Both the countries also agreed to work together to combat the issue of drug trafficking prevalent in the North Arabian Sea,” another official said.
Oman has deployed F-16 fighters for the Eastern Bridge VI exercise from February 21 to 25. The IAF, in turn, has fielded Sukhoi-30MKIs, Jaguars and Mirage-2000s.
“This is the sixth edition of the exercise. It will provide an opportunity to enhance operational capability and interoperability between the two air forces,” an official said.
“The exercise will promote professional interaction, exchange of experiences and enhancement of operational knowledge, besides strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries,” he added.
The air combat exercise comes soon after the two countries also decided to further enhance naval cooperation during the visit of Rear Admiral Saif Bin Nasser Bin Mohsin Al Rahbi, commander of the Royal Navy of Oman, to India from Feb 13 to 17.
The two navies have been conducting the biennial maritime exercise ‘Naseem Al Bahr‘ since 1993. This exercise was last conducted off Goa in 2020 and the next edition is scheduled later this year.
India and Oman also held the Joint Military Cooperation Committee Meeting (JMCC) on bilateral defense cooperation in New Delhi on January 31.
The JMCC meeting reviewed the progress made in military-to-military engagements, including joint exercises, industry cooperation and various ongoing infrastructure projects. It decided to identify new avenues and examine areas of mutual interest for joint ventures in order to enhance defense industry cooperation. Conduct of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) exercises, involving the three services, and enhancing the scope and complexities of the existing joint exercises were also discussed. “Both the countries also agreed to work together to combat the issue of drug trafficking prevalent in the North Arabian Sea,” another official said.
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