US Air Force dubs Cope India exercise a success

Air Force Station Agra, India: Even as United States and Indian Army officials are gushing about their positive experiences in a joint exercise conducted at the Babina training range, air force officials from both nations have similar positive experiences to relate about their joint exercise, held in tandem with the army joint exercise, at Air Force Station Agra.

The joint-training operations executed here were part of the Cope India exercise held over five days - from 19-23 October. Cope India is a United States and India air transport exercise that provides training for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations and has some military features as well.

A combined total of 25 sorties were flown on the C-17 Globemaster-III and C-130H and J Hercules during the exercise, US Air Force sources said.

Maj Gen Darryll Wong, commander of the Hawaii Air National Guard, dubbed the exercise a success observing how flexible both air forces were during training. This, the general said, was the first step towards successful joint operations in the future.

"It helps us to understand how we do business," General Wong said. "We shared our operational experiences and found ways to strengthen our capacity to bring airpower in times of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, which will be important one day as our two air forces continue to build this capacity in this region."

The objectives of the exercise were to foster stronger cooperation and joint operations capability between the US and Indian air forces by exchanging humanitarian airlift, air-land and air drop capabilities.

"We appreciate the opportunity this week to exercise the many aspects across the spectrum of airlift operations that we experienced this week," said Col Raymond LaMarche, director of plans, programs and requirements at 13th Air Force, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. "It is a wonderful partnership that we continue to mould, and the experience we gained on both sides was tremendously beneficial to flight operations."

US air force sources said more than 110 US and Indian paratroopers conducted static line or high altitude low observable jumps in what is certainly the first known airdrops of IAF personnel from a US C-17 and C-130J aircraft.

Commodore Shouvik Roy, commanding officer of AFS Agra, said he was extremely impressed with the professionalism of the US Air Force and hopes to continue exercises like Cope India in the future.

"The exercise provided a grand opportunity to validate ourselves in joint operations, aero-medical actions, and special operations," Commodore Roy said. "The learning opportunities never end. One can be sure that we will move forward and continue to build our relationship."

"We had a multitude of flying exercises that focused on cooperative flight operations-- of particular success is the aero-medical disaster exercise along with the subject matter expert exchanges. It was information exchanged during these training exercises that is invaluable to future operations," Colonel LaMarche said.

"The application of joint and combined airlift has definitely furthered the flying capabilities of the US Air Force and Indian Air Force. We have forged a strong bond with the Indian Air Force in building friendships and partnerships which is critical for future regional operations," the colonel said