Posted on 08/07/2015 4:58:58 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
The Indian Air Force (IAF) boasted that they thrashed the RAF in a friendly dogfight in the skies above Lincolnshire - while using Russian-made aircraft.
British crews came head-to-head with their Indian counterparts last month in a 10-day joint exercise codenamed Operation Indradhanush - the fourth of its kind in recent years.
The IAF brought four of its Sukhoi SU-30MKI Flanker fighter aircraft to RAF Coningsby to face off against the UK's Typhoon FGR4 fighters.
It gave RAF pilots a rare opportunity to train alongside the Russian-designed aircraft - allowing British servicemen to gain experience in air combat with the jets, amid increasing tensions between the West and Russia.
President Vladimir Putin continues to fly his country's 'bear' bombers close to UK airspace and the RAF has already deployed fighter jets in the region as Russian aggression in Ukraine rumbles on.
However, the RAF has rubbished claims the IAF beat British crews '12-0' in the latest exercise, with a source describing the boast as "comical".
They said British pilots did not make use of the advanced technology at their disposal and were effectively fighting "with one arm behind their backs".
The RAF source told the Independent: "There must have been some clouded recollection on the flights back to India, as the headlines of the Indian press bear no relation to the results of the tactical scenarios completed on the exercise in any shape or form."
IAF Group Captain Ashu Srivastav claimed the performance of his pilots was "exceptional".
He said the SU-30's advanced Infrared Search and Track System allowed the IAF to out manoeuvre British jets.
But aviation expert Tony Osborne responded: "These cricket-style scores claimed by the IAF look impressive but should be treated with caution and certainly not as a realistic gauge of combat capability.
"We have to view these scores through the haze of pilot bravado, national pride and also some political correctness.
"Nonetheless, the Su-30MKI is one of the aircraft that the Typhoon was designed to tackle and defeat, and no doubt in the right hands would present a potent challenge."
A spokesperson for the RAF said: "Our analysis does not match what has been reported, RAF pilots and the Typhoon performed well throughout the exercise with and against the IAF.
"Both learnt a great deal from the exercise and the RAF look forward to the next opportunity to train alongside the IAF."
India is the largest international operator of the Sukhoi jet, which costs £30million, with around 200 in service, while the RAF has taken delivery of 129 of the twin-engine Typhoon planes at a cost of £87m each.
Just a touch of levity for International Beer Day August 7, 2015
Keep in mind that the Indian pilots use Israeli training.
Didn’t they claim they beat F-22s as well in some exercise or other more recently?
I kind of believe the Indian Air Force on this, Typhoons aren’t going to do well with bare knuckle brawling.
No not that. There was something late last year or early this. Something about a Russian or European fighter being able to sneak up on the F22. I could be wrong, I realize.
That would be the Eurofighter jocks claiming to have given a hard time to F-22s last year.
Thanks - I knew there was something - our fighter jets must be nearly obsolescent compared to the European, and obsolete compared to the Russian. Must be time to beat the rush and surrender before things get out of hand ...
There were both BVR & WVR engagements. These supposed results were in the WVR engagements. The BVR engagements were supposedly closer though the word is that the Su30’s did very well even there. As for limitations put on Typhoon & them being outnumbered, the exercises were held in the U.K. & there were just 4 Su30MKI’s involved.
Do you think you can scare me?
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