The Indian Air Force on Tuesday took part in a high-intensity joint exercise with the United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG) over the Indian Ocean Region.
The exercise featured IAF’s Sukhoi-30 MKIs, Jaguars, AWACS & AEW&C aircraft. Royal Navy’s F-35Bs from HMS Prince of Wales also participated in the exercise.
In a post on X, the IAF wrote, “On 14 Oct 25, IAF Sukhoi-30 MKIs, Jaguars, AWACS & AEW&C aircraft joined Royal Navy F-35Bs from HMS Prince of Wales for a joint exercise over the Indian Ocean Region. The training strengthened interoperability, mutual trust, and collective commitment to regional stability.”
The key element of the joint exercise was the deployment of IAF’s AWACS and AEW&C aircraft, which significantly enhanced situational awareness and command capabilities. AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) refers to aircraft equipped with powerful radar systems capable of monitoring and tracking aerial, naval, and missile movements over long distances. AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) aircraft perform a complementary role, acting as airborne command centres. They detect and track incoming threats, including aircraft and ships, and coordinate the response of friendly forces in real time, effectively serving as a mobile operations hub in the sky.