India-Russia bilateral Air Force exercise on in Halwara

CHANDIGARH: An eighteen member Russian Air Force team at Air Force Station Halwara in Punjab is participating in Phase II of the Indo-Russian bilateral exercise 'AVIA-INDRA I'.

'Air to ground' firing by aircraft and helicopters jointly flown by pilots of Indian Air Force (IAF) and Russian Federation Air Force (RFAF) at Sidhwan Khas range near Halwara took place today as part of the exercise.

The joint exercise will further strengthen the relations between the two Air Forces taking forward the India- Russia strategic partnership, a defence release said here.

The Russian delegation headed by Major General Lyapkin Alexander N, consists of Fighter and Helicopter aircrew among other members, it said.

Russian aircrew have flown IAF Su-30 MKI, Mi-35 and Mi-17 along with Indian aircrew, the release added.

Earlier, members of the Russian delegation visited Bengaluru, where they were exposed to indigenous projects such as Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas), Light Combat Helicopter and Advance Light Helicopter (Dhruv).

The Russian team will be in India till November 28.