The RAF said the two week exercise saw four Su-30MKI Flanker fighters from 2 Squadron IAF deploy from Northeast India to RAF Coningsby to train with Typhoon FGR4 equipped 3(Fighter) Squadron.
The RAF said in a statement:
"The exercise provides a rare opportunity for RAF pilots to test themselves against the fourth generation Russian built fighter."
Following the exercises, the IAF issued a statement saying: "Having 'touched the sky with glory' in consonance with the motto of the Indian Air Force (IAF) 'Nabhah Sparsham Deeptam', the air warriors of IAF are now set to return home after successful completion of the Indo-UK bilateral air exercise, Indradhanush."
However, media reports began circulating in India painting a somewhat rosier picture. NDTV reported: "In some of the most intense international air combat exercises ever featuring the Indian Air Force, IAF pilots flying Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fighters had a resounding 12-0 scoreline in their favor against Royal Air Force Typhoon jets in Within Visual Range (WVR) dogfighting operations.
"In subsequent Large Force Exercises (LFE), which featured combined Eurofighter Typhoon and Su-30 formations, the IAF jets were somewhat less successful but consistently held an edge over the Typhoon," NDTV said.
Muck Flying
Citing an exclusive interview with Group Captain Ashu Srivastav, the Contingent Commander in the exercises, NDTV said: "In all dog fighting exercises, IAF Sukhois were able to turn sharply into the extremely agile Typhoons using their thrust-vectored engines to keep the RAF jets locked in their sights.
"The Su-30's advanced Infrared Search and Track System (IRST), a passive sensor, which cannot be tracked, proved to be a distinct advantage for the IAF's pilots in close-combat manoeuvring."
However, the boasts were met with bemusement. Forces TV quoted an RAF spokesman offering a very British polite rebuttal to the claims saying: "Our analysis does not match what has been reported, RAF pilots and the Typhoon performed well throughout the exercise, with and against the Indian Air Force.
"Both nations learnt a great deal from the exercise and the RAF look forward to the next opportunity to train alongside the IAF," the spokesman said.
Forces TV finally signed off by quoting the NDTV interview with Group Captain Srivastav saying his pilots performed "fairly well" though "quantifying [the results] is difficult".
The IAF website stated:
"The bonhomie amongst personnel on both sides has been exceptional and in the true spirit of a bilateral exercise."
How much "bonhomie" there is after the claims and counter-claims remains to be seen.
