The MiG-21 Bison Soviet fighter has carved a reputation with the Indian Air Force (IAF) that took part in the 2004 Cope India Field Training Exercise (FTE).

They participated in the Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT), where two types of planes were engaged in simulated combat.

The drill took place 241 km south of Delhi in Gwalior with US Air Force (USAF) to train Indian pilots via the Tactics Air Combat Development Establishment.

Combat Exercises Between US, Indian Air Force

With their F-15 Eagles, over 150 airmen from Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska participated in the drill.

The Mirage 2000s, MiG-21s, MiG-27s, and SU-30s are among the IAF aircraft that participated in the exercise, reported the EurAsian Times.

According to the Times of India, the IAF was able to defeat the F-15 Eagles with their aged Soviet fighters. Indian pilots shot down the top guns of the US air fleet.

From the MIG-21 Fishbed, an older Russian-made fighter, the Indian Russian fighter is the enhanced version called the MIG-21 Bison.

Improvements to the avionics and weapons include a French navigation suite, even with Israeli-made counter electronic measures; last is the multiple tracking Hazotron Kopyo radar.

Armaments mounted on it are Vympel R-77 radar-guided missiles beyond visual range and R-73 Archer air-to-air missiles linked to a helmet system for targeting. However, it is an old model that was able to fight toe to toe with the modern F-15s.

Col. Mike Snodgrass, commander of the 3rd Wing at Elmendorf AFB, remarked the IAF MiG-21 were better than expected. The combined training and better hardware caused the eagles to be surprised.

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Indian Air ForceCompetent Pilots

Indian pilots were innovative and versatile, which took US pilots by surprise and made the Americans reconsider their initial assessment of the IAF.

One comment by Maj. Mark A. Snowden, of the 3rd Wing's chief of air-to-air tactics, was in the exercises; he added that the tactics used by Indian pilots were better than expected.

How the IAF pilots got their skills with some training with the French and flying at that level of skill made the US wonder what happened.

According to the IAF planners, they responded to the tactics used by Americans; changed tactics on the fly, which their partners did not expect. Snowden observed the way the Indians adapted.

Indian pilots at the Gwalior airbase had Bisons as fighter escorts with MiG-27 Floggers as their strikers, mentioned Air Force Technology.

Throughout the air drills, the Indian pilots would analyze and decide how to outfly the F-15s. It was hard for the US pilots to keep track of what was done by the IAF, which confused them.

The US pilots commented how they used the Flogger and the Bison for better protection, using the data link in the floggers to coordinate all the assets of the IAF.

Snowden said they did an excellent job bringing in their aircraft, knowing what to do at the right time.

Vinod Patney, retired Indian Air Force Marshal and ex-vice chief of staff, remarked that the COPE was a success for the IAF and all its units working together, noted the CS Monitor.

Some of the US pilots said limitations were imposed on the F-15s to equalize the chances of the IAFs MiG-21 Bison against them. Allowing a handicap on the US plane was reported.

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