Indo-US air exercise from Oct 19

The five-day exercise, Cope India-09, will be held at the city of Taj Mahal from October 19. Though the two countries agreed on the objective of the exercise and venue, the schedule has been finalised recently has been drawn up recently.

While the USAF will participate with C-17 Globemaster, C-130J (Super Hercules) and C-130H transport aircraft India will field its heavy-lift IL-76, medium-lift transport aircraft AN-32 and Mi-17 helicopters. The exercise is aimed at evaluating the tactical efficacies of joint operations, use of transport planes in medical emergencies and Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) missions involving medium and heavy lift transport aircraft.