Indian Air force now capable of meeting twin challenge from China, Pak

IAF now capable of meeting twin challenge from China, Pak

  Considering the threat perception
from both China and Pakistan, IAF has upgraded its
capabilities to meet any challenge from the two fronts
simultaneously.
    These capabilities were tested successfully for the first
time during the recent three-week war games 'Livewire' in
which over 400 fighter jets participated, IAF sources said
here today.
    In the exercise, which commenced on March 18, the IAF
created a simulated scenario of a challenge from both eastern
and western fronts simultaneously.
    Testing its capabilities to meet the challenge, the IAF
swiftly mobilised its frontline fighter and transport aircraft
from Pakistan border to the eastern front, particularly the
recently-developed Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in the
Northeast, the sources said.
    All the major aircraft of the IAF including the Su-30MKI,
Mirage 2000, Jaguars, MiG 29, MiG 27s and the MiG 21s took
part in the war games.
    They said the force kept the required number of aircraft
in the western front while mobilising the majority of its
assets including the mid-air refuelling aircraft towards the
eastern front, they said.
    All the air-fields in the northeast including the eight
Advanced Landing Grounds at Along, Walong, Tuting, Ziro,
Pasighat, Vijay Nagar and Tawang were activated and were
manned for operations of all types of fighter and transport
aircraft operations.
    This was the first time that such an exercise was
conducted by the IAF where it tested its capabilities on both
the possible war fronts, sources said.