News September 6, 2009

F-16 at the MMRCA proving grounds tomorrow

So far, the aircraft was in the week long first phase of trials which consisted of training on the aircraft for Indian Air Force (IAF) test pilots comprising academic exercises, cockpit familiarization as well 'a bit of flying', as one insider put it.

L ockheed Martin has informed StratPost that their starter for the MMRCA race, the F-16, is going into Phase II of the trials from Monday.

So far, the aircraft was in the first phase of trials which lasted a week. Phase I consisted of training on the aircraft for Indian Air Force (IAF) test pilots. The training comprised academic exercises, cockpit familiarization as well ‘a bit of flying’, as one insider put it.

From Monday, the aircraft will begin to be put through its paces by the IAF, an exercise that is expected to be exacting. The aircraft is to be ‘almost crash-tested’ over the skies of Bangalore, the Jaisalmer desert environment in Rajasthan, and the cold, and thin heights of Leh.

The F-16 is the second aircraft to be tried by the IAF for the over $ 10 billion order for 126 combat aircraft. The first was Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet.

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About Saurabh Joshi

View all posts by Saurabh Joshi
Follow Saurabh Joshi on Twitter @ http://www.twitter.com/saurabhjoshi Saurabh is a journalist based in New Delhi, India who has worked in print, television as well as internet news media. Besides defense and strategy, his past assignments have included reporting from Kashmir, coverage of terror strikes as well as election coverage from all over India. He has a Bachelors degree in Journalism (Honors) as well as a law degree (LLB), both from the University of Delhi.
  • akshay

    very unlike the IAF to test 2 planes since June 2009. Maybe they need the planes fast before their whole Mig 21 force comes crashing down :)

  • akshay

    very unlike the IAF to test 2 planes since June 2009. Maybe they need the planes fast before their whole Mig 21 force comes crashing down :)

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