SU 30 News

In a bid to secure its air space and deter military and surveillance aircraft of foreign nations from violating its borders, the Russian Air Force scrambled its fighter jets 18 times between August 23 and 30, 2019. While the Russian Defense Ministry did not identify the fighters scrambled, the country has a fleet of some of the most feared combat jets in its arsenal including Mikoyan MiG-29, Sukhoi Su-27, Su-30, Su-35 aircraft.

IAF's MiG-21 Bison, MiG-29 UPG and Sukhoi Su-30 MKIs can carry the R-73E missile for a close-range dogfight with enemy aircraft. During the aerial combat on February 27, 2019, IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman flying a MiG-21 Bison had shot down a Pakistani Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon using an R-73 missile.

The RAF released photos of the Eurofighter Typhoon jets, part of Operation AZOTIZE of the Baltic Air Policing mission in Estonia, intercepting the Russian Sukhoi Su-30s on June 14 and 15. Ten days later, the Typhoons were directed to intercept two Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighters.

The drill will be conducted by the IAF in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Government.