INDRA-2017: Indian, Russian Fighter Pilots Fly Together First Time In Tri-Services Military Drill

Russian fighter pilots flew with Indian second pilots for the first time in mixed international crews during the Indra-2017 military exercises in Russia’s Far Eastern Primorye Territory.

"For the first time in the history of the Russian aerospace forces, mixed international crews, with Indian second pilots, perform flights onboard Russian aircraft at the Central Uglovaya airfield near Vladivostok as part of the Russian-Indian multi-service force drills Indra-2017. All foreign pilots have experience of piloting similar aircraft used by the Indian air force," said spokesman for the Russian Pacific Navy Nikolai Voskresensky said on Thursday.

Mixed crew use Su-30M2 and An-26 planes, and Mi-8AMTSh helicopters. About ten joint crews have already performed reconnaissance flights, took part in the landing of tactical airborne force to Sergeyevsky range and hit targets simulating the maneuver enemy’s weapon emplacements, TASS reports.

As many as 80 Indian Air Force personnel, alongwith two massive transport aircraft, 350 soldiers from the Indian Army and two Indian Navy warships were part of the first-ever Tri Services Joint Exercise between Indian and Russian Armed Forces.

The objectives of the entire exercise is professional interactions, establishment of joint command and control structures between the Indian and Russian forces and elimination of terrorist threat in a multinational environment under the UN mandate.