In news– Indian Air Force to participate in a multi nation air exercise named ‘Ex Cobra Warrior 22’ at Waddington, UK from 06 to 27 March 2022.
About the exercise-
- It is aimed at providing operational exposure and sharing best practices amongst the participating Air Forces, thereby enhancing combat capability and forging bonds of friendship.
- From India, IAF Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas will participate in the exercise along with fighter aircraft of UK and other leading Air Forces.
- Once participated, it would be the maiden deployment for LCA Tejas in an international exercise for the indigenous fighter.
- However, the U.K. is planning to cancel the exercise in view of the Russian invasion and offensive in Ukraine.
- This year, U.K. was to host India for the bilateral air exercise Indradhanush, and instead had asked the IAF to join the multi-nation exercise Cobra Warrior.
- The exercise was also to see the participation of Air Forces of Belgium, Saudi Arabia, Sweden and the U.S.
About Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas-
- It is the smallest and lightest Multi-Role Supersonic Fighter Aircraft of its class.
- It is India’s first self-made fighter jet.
- In February 2019, it received the final operational clearance as a fully-weaponized fighter jet for induction into the Indian Air Force.
- Designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the indigenously-developed aircraft has been manufactured at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.
- Tejas aircraft can carry the same array of modern weapons that can be loaded on bigger warplanes, for example – precision-guided and standoff weaponry to long-range beyond visual range missiles that can take down target planes from a safe distance.
Source: The Hindu
