Indian, Oman air forces to hold joint exercise

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will commence a week-long joint exercise with the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) from 22 October, a senior air force official said Wednesday.

The exercise, codenamed 'Eastern Bridge,' would be held at the Royal Air Force of Oman base in Thumrait, nearly 1,200 km from capital Muscat. The city is also home to over 350,000 Indian expatriates.

Oman and India share deep historical and cultural links and in recent times have upped their commercial interaction as well. Companies such as Larsen & Toubro and Punj Lloyd are invested heavily here.

"The exercise will enhance the understanding of operational, maintenance and administrative procedures between the RAFO and the IAF. The bilateral exercise would also be cost-effective in terms of benefit realization of operational and tactical preparedness over an unknown mixed terrain of land and desert," IAF vice chief, air marshal PK Barbora, told reporters.

"It would expose our fighter pilots to low flying over unfamiliar terrain," he added.

When queried if the IAF could also be preparing for anti-piracy operations in support of the Indian Navy, which has deployed its warships in the Gulf of Aden, air marshal Barbora said: "We do not know whether we would be called for such operations. But it's better to be prepared."