- US and Indian Air Force will conduct ‘Cope India’ combat training exercise from 10-21 April 2023 at Kalaikunda Airbase in West Bengal. Japan will be the observer nation in this exercise.
- The exercise was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is being held after a gap of four years.
- The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to field its frontline fighters SU30MKI, Rafale and indigenous Light Combat Aircraft as well as force multipliers, while the US Air Force is expected to bring in F-15 fighter jets.
- The Japanese Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) participated in Cope India as an observer for the first time in December 2018, based on the agreement of the Defense Ministerial meeting on August 20, 2018.
Cope India:-
- Cope India is a series of wargames that originated in 2004 as a fighter training exercise held at Gwalior air station.
- Over the years, the exercise has expanded to include a variety of training activities, including subject matter expert exchanges, air mobility training, airdrop training, and large-force exercises, in addition to fighter-training exercises.
- The previous edition of the exercise was held in 2019.