BY : PTI




India's frontline Sukhoi-30 MKI warplanes today had the opportunity to prove their mettle against the new generation of fighters as they crossed swords with Britain's Eurofighter Typhoons in a wargame here.

The Sukhois took on Royal Air Force Torandoes and Typhoons in intricate simulated beyond visual range combat over the skies here to ring down the curtains on the second bilateral Indo-UK air exercise.

Typhoons are among the newest fighters to be developed and have just entered squadron service with the Royal Air Force.

The simulated combat began with low-level exercises and touched a crescendo in a highly complex conceivable scenario -- a six versus six aerial combat involving four Sukhois, four Tornadoes, two Typhoons and two GR9 Sea-Harriers.

The RAF E3D sentry AWACS were also in play along with IL-78 Air to Air refuellers to make the combat network-centric.

Air Force Chief Fali Homi Major was at hand to see his air warriors in action against the latest generation of fighters. This was the first time the air warriors were in action anywhere over the English skies.

The Indian Sukhoi which has built up a reputation in air combat proved to be a big draw as hundreds of people watched the air exercise carried out over the Royal air base here.

The IAF-RAF expert judges who kept the score count on the control tower of the air base did not let out the score of shoots and kills, merely saying there were no "winners or losers".