• Exercise Cope India 23, a bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force and the United States Air Force is being held at Air Force Stations Arjan Singh (Panagarh), Kalaikunda and Agra. 

• Cope India began in 2004 as a fighter training exercise held at Air Station Gwalior, India. The exercise has evolved to incorporate subject matter expert exchanges, air mobility training, airdrop training and large-force exercises, in addition to fighter-training exercises.

• The Cope India 23 aims to enhance mutual understanding between the two air forces and share their best practices. 

• The first phase of the exercise will focus on air mobility and will involve transport aircraft and Special Forces assets from both the air forces.

• Both sides will field the C-130J and C-17 aircraft, with the USAF operating an MC-130J, as well. The exercise also includes the presence of Japanese Air Self Defence Force aircrew, who will participate in the capacity of observers.

Other bilateral exercises include: 

i) Yudh Abhyas (Army)

ii) Vajra Prahar (Special Forces) 

iii) Tiger Triumph (a tri-services exercise inaugurated in 2019).

Major Defence Partner

• The Indo-US defence ties have been on an upswing in the last few years.

• In June 2016, the US designated India a ‘Major Defence Partner’ paving way for sharing of critical military equipment and technology.

• The two countries have also inked key defence and security pacts over the past few years, including the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 that allows their militaries to use each other’s bases for repair and replenishment of supplies.

• The two sides also signed COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) in 2018 which provides for interoperability between the two militaries and provides for the sale of high-end technology from the US to India.

• In October 2020, India and the US sealed the BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement) agreement to further boost bilateral defence ties. The pact provides for sharing of high-end military technology, logistics and geospatial maps between the two countries.

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