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Indian and Saudi Deployments by Paul Filmer

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During the second half of this year, the Royal Air Force (RAF) has hosted two major deployments by foreign air forces. These were the first operational visits to the United Kingdom for both air arms.

The Indians Invade Waddington


The highest-profile deployment involved six Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MKI Flankers, which traveled over 5000 miles to RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire with their two Ilyushin Il-76 “Candid” and two Ilyushin Il-78 “Midas” support aircraft. One Il-78 stayed at “Waddo” for the duration of the nine-day Indradhanush II exercise, allowing the aircraft to fly longer sorties by refueling in flight.

Indian and Saudi DeploymentsIndian and Saudi DeploymentsIndian and Saudi DeploymentsIndian and Saudi Deployments

This was not the first time India’s SU-30s have visited a western nation, following as it did a similar deployment to Istres, France in 2005. Even so, it was a rare chance for European aircraft enthusiasts to see these Russian-designed “superfighters” outside of an airshow environment.

Indian and Saudi DeploymentsIndian and Saudi DeploymentsIndian and Saudi DeploymentsIndian and Saudi Deployments
ELITE 2008

ELITE 2008

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