Agra: Pitching for a robust Indo-US military
ties, US Ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer on Monday said that
America is ready to support India`s drive to modernise its
armed forces.
"The United States is ready to support India in its drive
to modernise its armed forces," Roemer said, inaugurating the
five-day Cope India 2009 joint air exercises here.
The Ambassador also allayed fears over reliability of
America as a supplier of defence equipment to India.
"I know that some are apprehensive about reliability of
the United States as a supplier of military equipment to
India. I can tell you that our relationship is far different
than it was even a few years back," he said.
Stating that the Indo-US relationship had come a long way
since those apprehensions were formed, he said "this is a
different world today. Our cooperation in the spheres of
energy, science and technology, agriculture, education and
development and trade -- all point to an even stronger
relationship. The defence realm will be no different."
Referring to the C-130 Super Hercules and the C-17
Globemaster transport aircraft, the US ambassador said both
these aircraft were US airforce`s work horses.
Besides transport operations, the exercises will focus
on insertion and extraction of its special forces in hostile
zones, as also searching for pilots, who may have crashed in
enemy territory, and rescuing them.
"One of the focus of this exercise is joint operations by
special forces of both IAF and USAF behind enemy lines, such
as sending a team into hostile territory or to extricate a
pilot, whose aircraft had crashed there," USAF`s Cope
India Director Colonel Raymond Lamarche told a news agency here.
Reminiscent of the popular Gene Hackman and Owen
Wilson-starrer Hollywood movie `Behind Enemy Lines`, a group
of IAF`s Garud special forces and USAF special forces troops
boarded a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft to carry out a
para-jump over Agra skies in a real-time operations
simulation.
To a question on the future possibility of a similar joint
operation by the two air forces in counter-terrorism and
anti-piracy roles, Col Lamarche replied in the affirmative and
said that was why they were exercising the complex manoeuvres
here.
Ambassador Roemer also referred to the C-130 Super
Hercules and the C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft both of
which, he said, were US airforce`s work horses.
"I can assure you that IAF will be very pleased with the
decision to purchase the C-130 J. Your first aircraft will
arrive in early 2011, a little over a year from now, and it
will be everything you hope it to be. We are proud to partner
with you on this important programme," he said.
India has ordered for six C-130 J aircraft for its
special forces operations and these aircraft will be based at
the Hindon air base in Ghaziabad near the national capital.
With regard to C-17, Roemer said a proposal to purchase
this aircraft were at present under the Indian Defence
Ministry`s consideration.
C-130J `Super Hercules` is an American four-engine
turboprop military transport aircraft made by Lockheed Martin
capable of carrying 20 tons or 92 fully armed airborne troops.
C-17 `Globemaster` is a large Boeing-made military transport
aircraft capable of carrying 75 ton or 135 troops.
On the increasing scope, complexity and tempo of the
Indo-US military exercises, Roemer said the Cope India 2009
will be the sixth air exercise between the air forces of the
two countries since 2003.
"In addition, I note that the most complex US-India army
exercise, Yudh Abhyas, is also currently underway a few miles
down south of Agra in Babina. The deployment of US Army`s
Stryker (infantry combat vehicle) in this exercise as well as
the IAF`s deployment to the US last year for the Red Flag are
examples of the increased level of engagement between our two
militaries," he said.
He said the US was looking forward to next year`s Malabar
naval exercise, which had grown considerably over the years.
The healthy and growing defence ties between India and
US, Roemer said, was part of a broader strategic partnership
that derived from common principle and shared national
security interests.
"As the world`s largest democracies, we agree on vital
importance of political and economic freedom, democratic
institutions, the rule of law, security and opportunity. A
strong, strategic relationship between US and India is crucial
to addressing regional security challenges such as maintaining
peace, security, and stability and responding to regional
humanitarian crises and natural disasters when they occur," he
added.
Bureau Report
