During the ongoing BRIGHT STAR-23 Exercise, the Indian Air Force’s IL-78 tanker successfully conducted air-to-air refueling with Egyptian Air Force aircraft, including MIG and Rafale fighters.
On Tuesday, the Indian Air Force confirmed that they had refueled Egyptian Air Force MIG 29 M and Rafale fighters as part of the Exercise ‘BRIGHT STAR-23’. This biennial multilateral tri-service exercise commenced at Cairo (West) Air Base, Egypt, on August 27 and is scheduled to continue until September 16.
The exercise features contingents from the US, Saudi Arabia, Greece, and Qatar, alongside India, marking the first-ever participation of the Indian Air Force in this defense exercise.
The primary objective of the exercise is to practice the planning and execution of joint operations. Beyond fostering bonds across borders, such interactions serve to strengthen strategic relations among participating nations, as stated by the Ministry of Defence.
Last week, the Indian Air Force (IAF) IL-78 conducted air-to-air refueling with an Egyptian Air Force aircraft during Exercise BRIGHT STAR-23. The IAF highlighted the camaraderie in the skies over Egypt, where the Indian Air Force IL-78 air-to-air refueling aircraft provided support to aircraft from the Egyptian Air Force.
The Indian Air Force contingent included five MiG-29, two IL-78, two C-130, and two C-17 aircraft. Additionally, personnel from the IAF’s Garud Special Forces and several squadrons, namely Numbers 28, 77, 78, and 81, are participating in the exercise. The IAF’s transport aircraft have also facilitated the airlift of approximately 150 Indian Army personnel participating in the exercise.
The Ministry of Defence underscored the exceptional relationship and deep cooperation between India and Egypt. Notably, in the 1960s, the two nations jointly engaged in the development of aero-engines and aircraft, and Indian counterparts provided training to Egyptian pilots. Recent visits by the Chief of Air Forces of both countries, as well as India’s Defence Minister and Prime Minister to Egypt, have further solidified this civilizational partnership. Additionally, joint training exercises between their Armed Forces have become a regular feature, enhancing their collaborative defense capabilities, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Defence.
