Oman, India gear for war games

MUSCAT, Oman, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Set to be roped into anti-piracy operations, the Indian air force will take part in an unprecedented exercise with Oman next week.

Code-named Eastern Bridge, the Oct. 22-29 air exercise will take place at the Royal Air Force of Oman base at Thumrait, nearly 1,200 kilometers from the capital, Muscat.

Oman has always been important for India in expanding trade and business.

"The exercise will enhance the understanding of operational, maintenance and administrative procedures between the RAFO and the IAF. The bilateral exercise would also be cost-effective in terms of benefit realization of operational and tactical preparedness over an unknown mixed terrain of land and desert," the IAF vice chief, Air Marshal P.K. Barbora, told reporters.

"It would expose our fighter pilots to low flying over unfamiliar terrain," he added.

The Indian air force will field six single-seat, Darin-I Jaguars alongside Omani Jaguars and F-16s.

The air force will also feature two IL-78 MKI air-to-air refueler aircraft for tanking the Jaguars en route to Oman and an IL-76 will airlift air warriors to Oman.

The exercise comes amid considerations by the air force to deploy fighter jets for carrying out anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden.

"If the swatch becomes any bigger, the navy may not be able to cover the entire area due to constraints of speed and vessels. This is when the IAF may be asked to offer help," Barbora was quoted saying by local press on the first-ever Indo-Oman air exercise.

He said the war games could prove beneficial with regard to any future deployment in anti-piracy operations, taking into accounting Oman's geographical location.

The main Indian contingent is expected to comprise 33 officers and 65 personnel under the officer level.

"The bilateral exercise would also be cost-effective in terms of benefit realization of operational and tactical preparedness over an unknown mixed terrain of land and desert," said an Indian Defense Ministry statement.

Last year India and Oman signed a defense agreement, providing the possibility of stationing Indian troops in the Arab country. The two countries have also agreed to join forces in fighting piracy in a maritime security arrangement set to include other countries as well.

Under an existing defense cooperation, India and Oman are limited to training of personnel at Indian facilities and naval exercises.

Oman is geographically India's closest Arab ally within the strategically vital Persian Gulf region. It is the second time that the Indian air force is exercising in the region. It had staged a joint drill with the U.A.E. air force last year.