Indradhanush (Air Force Exercise)

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Exercise '''Indradhanush''' (Hindi:Rainbow) is a joint air force exercise conducted by the [[Royal Air Force]] and the [[Indian Air Force]]. The exercise is tasked to enhance mutual operational understanding between the two air forces via close interaction. The exercise started in 2006 and has held four editions so far.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://aviationweek.com/blog/exercise-indradhanush-flankers-and-typhoons-battle-british-skies|title=Exercise Indradhanush: Flankers And Typhoons Battle In British Skies|website=aviationweek.com|language=en|access-date=2017-11-02}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=68741|title=Press Information Bureau|access-date=2017-11-02}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshows/nation-world/indradhanush-iv-indo-uk-bilateral-air-exercise-conducted-in-uk/indo-uk-bilateral-air-exercise/slideshow/48386074.cms|title=Indradhanush-IV: Indo-UK bilateral Air Exercise conducted in UK - Indo-UK bilateral Air Exercise|website=The Economic Times|access-date=2017-11-02}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=23623|title=Press Information Bureau|access-date=2017-11-02}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive.cfm?storyid=BE8B53D9-1143-EC82-2E1D1D967FFBDE9F|title=RAF - News by Date|last=here|first=RAF Details|website=www.raf.mod.uk|language=en|access-date=2017-11-02}}</ref>

== 2006 ==
The first edition of the exercise was held between 2–13 October at [[Gwalior Airport|Gwalior Air Force Station]] in India.<ref name=":3" />

== 2007 ==
The second edition of the exercise was held at [[RAF Waddington]] in United Kingdom. India was represented by air superiority fighter [[Sukhoi Su-30MKI|Sukhoi Su-30MKI's]] and a mid-air refueling tanker [[Ilyushin Il-78 MKI|Ilyushin IL-78 MKI]] from [[No. 78 Squadron IAF|No. 78 Squadron]]. United Kingdom was represented by [[Panavia Tornado|Panavia Tornado's]] from the [[No. 25 Squadron RAF|No. 25 Squadron]] based at [[RAF Leeming]] and [[Eurofighter Typhoon|Eurofighter Typhoon's]] from [[No. 7 Squadron RAF|No. 7 Squadron]] based at [[RAF Coningsby]].<ref name=":4" />

== 2010 ==
The third edition of the exercise was held between 18 October - 3 November at [[Kalaikunda Air Force Station|Kalaikunda AFS]] in India. India was represented by fighters [[Sukhoi Su-30MKI|Sukhoi Su-30 MKI's]], [[Dassault Mirage 2000|Dassault Mirage 2000's]], [[Mikoyan MiG-27|Mikoyan MiG-27's]], a mid-air refueling tanker [[Ilyushin Il-78 MKI|Ilyushin IL-78 MKI]] from [[No. 78 Squadron IAF|No. 78 Squadron]] and an AWAC [[Beriev A-50]] from [[No. 50 Squadron IAF|No. 50 Squadron]], both based at Agra AFS. United Kingdom was represented by [[Eurofighter Typhoon|Eurofighter Typhoon's]].<ref name=":1" />

== 2015 ==
The fourth edition of the exercise was held between 21–30 July at [[RAF Coningsby]] and [[RAF Brize Norton]] in United Kingdom. India was represented by four air superiority fighter [[Sukhoi Su-30MKI|Sukhoi Su-30 MKI's]] from [[No. 2 Squadron IAF|No. 2 Squadron]] based at Tezpur AFS, one mid-air refueling tanker [[Ilyushin Il-78 MKI|Ilyushin IL-78 MKI]] from [[No. 78 Squadron IAF|No. 78 Squadron]] based at Agra AFS, a military transport aircraft [[Boeing C-17 Globemaster III]] from [[No. 81 Squadron IAF|No. 81 Squadron]] based at Hindon AFS and [[Garud Commando Force|Garud commandos]]. United Kingdom was represented by sixteen [[Eurofighter Typhoon|Eurofighter Typhoon's]] from [[No. 3 Squadron RAF|No. 3 Squadron]] based at [[RAF Coningsby]], an [[Airbus A330 MRTT]] air refueling tanker, a [[Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules|Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules]] transport aircraft and [[RAF Regiment]] paratroopers. The fighter jets operated out of [[RAF Coningsby]], the refueling tankers from [[RAF Brize Norton]] and the paratroopers from RAF Hunnington. The exercise saw multiple engagements including 1vs1, 1vs2, 4vs4, beyond visual range (BVR), within visual range (WVR), paradropping mission between the two air forces. There was some controversy regarding the final tactical results of the exercise.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.airforce-technology.com/uncategorised/newsuk-indian-air-forces-exercise-indradanush-4634110/|title=UK and Indian Air Forces participate in Exercise Indradanush - Airforce Technology|date=2015-07-28|work=Airforce Technology|access-date=2017-11-02|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indian-air-forces-top-guns-score-wins-in-the-uk-1204336|title=Indian Air Force Sukhois Dominate UK Fighter Jets in Combat Exercises|work=NDTV.com|access-date=2017-11-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/why-iaf-vs-raf-is-a-dogfight-with-shadows/|title=Why ‘IAF versus RAF’ is a dogfight with shadows|date=2015-08-11|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2017-11-02|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rbth.com/blogs/stranger_than_fiction/2015/08/07/flanker-fury-how-the-sukhois-blanked-the-typhoons-12-0-in-british-skies_382281|title=Flanker fury: How the Sukhois blanked the Typhoons 12-0 in British skies|last=Simha|first=Rakesh Krishnan|date=2015-08-07|access-date=2017-11-02|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/punditry/why-there-are-doubts-over-the-iaf-s-claims-of-success-in-the-indradhanush-exercise-115091400553_1.html|title=Why there are doubts over the IAF's claims of success in the Indradhanush exercise|last=Iyer-Mitra|first=Abhijit|date=2015-09-14|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2017-11-02}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

[[Category:Indian military exercises]]
[[Category:Military aviation exercises]]

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Indradhanush (Air Force Exercise)