The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Mirage 2000s, IL-78s stop over at airbase

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 12, 2004

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Mirage 2000s, IL-78s stop over at airbase

By S. Anil Radhakrishnan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, SEPT. 11 . Seven Mirage 2000s and two IL-78 aircraft of the Indian Air Force today arrived at the Shanghumughom Airbase at the international airport here on their way to South Africa to participate in an "international exercise" being organised next week.

A top official of the airport told The Hindu that the aircraft, which arrived from an air base in the North, would proceed to South Africa in a day or two from here. Another Mirage 2000 is expected to arrive tonight or on Sunday.

The airbase witnessed frenzied activity with the arrival of the fighter aircraft and movement of IAF personnel in the airport premises. The arrival of the fighter aircraft had been kept a secret with defence officials refusing to comment on the place of the air show in South Africa citing security reasons.

Airshow

Defence sources said India, along with several countries, is participating in the air show and that six Mirage 2000s will participate in the manoeuvres. The other two Mirage 2000s will be kept as a stand-by.

The Mirage 2000s are parked on the civilian side, and the IL-78s near the Shanghumughom side of the airport. Special arrangements have been made as the airport has only seven parking bays. Security has also been tightened.

The Mirage-2000 is a single-seater air defence and multi-role fighter of French origin powered by a single engine. It can attain a maximum speed of 2,495 km an hour.

Recent acquisition

The IL-78, recently acquired by the IAF, is the upgraded version of the IL-76, the long-haul military transport aircraft. The IL-78 is accompanying the fighter aircraft to South Africa to enable mid-air refuelling so that the Mirage 2000s can fly non-stop.

Two Mirage-2000s can be refuelled from the IL-78 at a time and in case of emergency, it can refuel even three Mirage 2000s at one go. The IAF is planning to carry out a mock exercise of refuelling before the aircraft leaves for South Africa. The Southern Air Command is providing the logistical support.

The aircraft are expected to leave for South Africa starting Monday afternoon. A top official of the IAF headquarters in New Delhi is flying down here for briefing the pilots and other crew. It is for the first time that fighter aircraft are in the city to participate in an international show.

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