Ajit Karn
The Mirage 2000 aircraft of the Indian Air Force, which conducted the Balakot airstrikes in 2019, participated for the first time in the multinational exercise Cobra Warrior 2023 at the Waddington air base in the United Kingdom.
For the exercise, approximately 100 IAF personnel and five Mirage-2000 aircraft, two C-17 Globemaster-III strategic transport aircraft, and one IL-78 mid-air refuelling aircraft travelled from Jamnagar air base to Waddington in the United Kingdom.
James Calvert, Cobra Warrior’s Exercise Director, expressed his delight at the IAF’s participation. “Cobra Warrior is a routine exercise hosted by the United Kingdom. The objective of this exercise is to invite participating nations to collaborate with the United Kingdom and one another. “It’s great to have the Indian Air Force present with the Mirage 2000,” he told the media.
When asked if the Mirage-2000 used in ‘Cobra Warrior’ is the same as those used in the Balakot operations, the team commander of the Indian contingent participating in ‘Cobra Warrior,’ Group Captain M Gangola, responded, “These are the same machines.” They continue to be highly competent for modern warfare.
The IAF Group Captain said of his participation in multinational operations, “The experience has been extremely enriching.” We were able to travel 4,500 miles from India, deploy here, and operate in fairly severe weather conditions alongside air forces from around the world. And we’ve been able to execute missions that are fairly complex in a very brief period of time.”
Mirage 2000 of Balakot fame participates in Ex Cobra Warrior in the United Kingdom
Group Captain Pranav Raj, commanding commander of squadron 7 Indian Air Force Battle axes, echoed similar sentiments, stating, “It has been a great experience.” “We have learned a great deal from flying with participating nations. We’ve flown with F-18s and F-16s, as well as conducted offensive and defensive counter-air missions, among other air operations. It’s an exercise that gives the flight and maintenance crews valuable experience,” he said.
Additionally, Group Captain Raj described the Indian contingent partaking in Cobra Warrior 2023. “We are approximately 100 individuals in total. This includes both aircrew and technicians. I’m here with 17 of my pilots, 54 of my technicians, and the remainder of the contingent for various administrative, logistical, and other duties. We are here with five Mirage 2000 aircraft and approximately one hundred members of the Indian Air Force,” he explained.
Balakot airstrikes
On February 26, 2019, 12 IAF Mirage 2000 fighter planes took off from multiple locations and bombed Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camps in Pakistan’s Balakot, in retaliation for the suicide bombing of a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama, which killed 40 security personnel.
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The airstrikes in Balakot were a “non-military pre-emptive” assault against terrorist training facilities. The airstrikes were conducted around 3:30 a.m., and IAF aircraft returned to their bases without incident.
