USAF to display F-15, F-16 at Aero India

USAF F-15E aircraft from the 90th Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska | Photo: Boeing

The US Air Force will be sending two F-15 and one F-16 aircraft to Aero India 2015 to be held in Bangalore from February 18.

The Boeing F-15 Strike Eagle aircraft will fly from Kadena in Japan for what will be their first appearance at the Indian air show. F-15C aircraft have flown earlier in Indian skies, notably during the 2004 Cope India joint exercise held between the US Air Force and the Indian Air Force at Gwalior.

The US Air Force is also sending a single Lockheed Martin F-16 aircraft, which was one of the two US contenders for the Indian Air Force tender for the 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), besides the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet.

In addition to these, the US will be flying in a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III, a US Navy P-8A Poseidon and a KC-135 aircraft.

The Indian Air Force already operates the Boeing C-17, while the Indian Navy operates the Boeing P-8I Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance (LRMR) aircraft.

The US is also planning to send a US Army Special Forces parachute display team to Aero India 2015.

Meanwhile, the French are planning to send in the winner of the six-contestant MMRCA competition, with three Rafale aircraft expected to display at the air show.

At the end of 2014, Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parikkar had broached the possibility of India ordering more Russian Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft, in case negotiations with Dassault for the Rafale aircraft fell through, after reports that the deal was in difficulty.