Cope India-23: Amid Rising Geopolitical Tensions, India-US Air Exercise Begins In West Bengal's Panagarh

The first phase of Exercise Cope India-23 began on Monday with both sides engaging their own fleet of C-130J and C-17 aircraft. Japan will participate as an observer.

Both India and US will field the C-130J and C-17 aircraft

Source : Special Arrangement

The first phase of Exercise Cope India-23 began Monday at West Bengal’s Panagarh Air Force base, also known as Air Force Station Arjan Singh, aiming to enhance mutual understanding between the Indian and US air forces.

Exercise Cope India 23 is a bilateral Air Exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the United States Air Force (USAF). Apart from Panagarh, the war games will be held at the Air Force stations in Kalaikunda and Agra.

"This phase of the exercise will focus on air mobility and will involve transport aircraft and Special Forces assets from both the Air Forces. Both sides will field the C-130J and C-17 aircraft, with the USAF operating an MC-130J, as well," the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

It added that the exercise will also include the presence of Japanese Air Self Defence Force aircrew, who will participate in the capacity of observers.

The wargame began in the backdrop of intense military drills carried by China around Taiwan for three days that concluded Monday. Beijing carried out the aggressive exercise following the visit of President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-Wen to the US where she met their House Speaker.

India And US — 'Major Defence Partners'

The India-US air exercise, which began in 2004, has grown over the years exponentially and will now see paving the way for greater interoperability between India and US as far as the fighters are concerned. US is keenly watching India’s mega 114 multi-role fighter programme run by the IAF.

The US wants to sell India Lockheed Martin’s F-21 fighters, Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet and MQ-9 Reaper armed drones made by General Atomics, among others to India, which is also America’s ‘Major Defence Partner’.

Both Washington and New Delhi are also exploring ways to share jet-engine technology even as American conglomerate General Electric (GE) has offered to manufacture its military engines in India.

Last month, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall travelled to India to discuss building on the rapid growth in bilateral security cooperation and explore ways to further operationalise the US-India Major Defense Partnership.

During an interaction with Indian journalists, he had stated that India and the US are at an early stage to conclude an 'Air Information Sharing Agreement' that will be “over and above” the defence foundational pacts.

During the last edition of the Aero India show that took place in February 2023, the US had sent F-35 and F-16 fighter planes and supersonic heavy bombers B-1B Lancers in order to exhibit their airpower.