Ready to soar with Israel, IAF awaits Centre nod

The IAF is fully prepared for joint air exercises with Israel this year, awaiting only the Government’s approval to go ahead. Unofficially, the Force has made it known that it would be in its interest to manoeuvre with Israeli F-16 fighters, though the Government has stopped short of endorsing joint training — the exercise would be at conflict with its foreign policy on Palestine, South Block sources said.

In September last year, former IAF chief S. Krishnaswamy flew an Israeli-upgraded F-16I on a visit to the country, but said exercises with Israel had ‘‘serious political implications’’. The last time Israel expressed its interest in joint air exercises was at the third joint working group held in Tel Aviv on December 24, 2004.

Anticipating significant joint air training activity with other countries this year — including the US — the IAF is setting up dedicated international joint exercise infrastructure at its MiG-27 base in Kalaikunda (West Bengal), that will replace Gwalior as the new default base for all future air exercises. Sources said the Kalaikunda base is being given a face-lift especially for the Cope India exercises with the USAF planned for November.