INDIAN PILOTS DIVERT TO DISPLAY
Two Sukhoi Su-30MKIs Flankers, supported by an IL-78, will make a rare public appearance in the West when they attend on July 14-15 to mark the Indian Air Force’s 75th anniversary.
The Sukhoi Su-30MKI - a variant of the Sukhoi Su-30 - is a heavy class, long-range, multi-role, air superiority fighter and strike fighter which has been jointly-developed by Russia's Sukhoi Corporation and India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Air Force.
| We make it our business to extend the hand of friendship to every international air arm whether they are our neighbours or located halfway around the world because we believe the more countries that take part the more successful our airshow is in performing its very important international diplomacy role. |
| Tim Prince - Director RIAT |
The appearance of the aircraft co-incides with the participation of around six IAF Su-30 Flankers in a joint exercise in July involving RAF Tornado F-3s from RAF Leeming and the RAF E-3 component based at RAF Waddington. It follows on from last year’s joint exercise in India, the first major exercise between the two air forces for more than 40 years.
Last year’s exercise, named Exercise Indra Dhanush (which means ‘rainbow’ in Hindi), was held at IAF Gwalior and IAF Agra and saw Tornado F-3s, the E-3D Sentry and a VC-10 make up the bulk of the RAF air presence. Among the IAF aircraft involved were Sukhoi-30 MKIs, Mirage 2000, MiG-21 'Bison' and the MiG-27.
Air Tattoo Director Tim Prince said he is delighted and honoured to have the Indian Air Force take part in this summer’s airshow. “We were fortunate that the date scheduled for the joint exercise co-incided with the airshow. Whilst we are hugely grateful for the continuous support of all the air arms that take part each year, it is the rare and exotic aircraft that are the lifeblood of the Air Tattoo. It is what sets us apart from many other airshows."
