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The RAFO contingent comprised of six Jaguar
aircraft and 115 personnel while from the IAF’s
side,Jaguars and MiG 29s based at Jamnagar participated
in the exercise.
RAFO Jaguars had ferried in directly from Thumrait
and landed at Jamnagar. Two years back when the
IAF contingent visited Oman, their Omani counterparts
had expressed keen interest and desire to fly
over Indian terrain which has a vast variation
quite unlike the Omani flatbed desert. After having
flown from Air Force Station Jamnagar, they would
understand the challenges the IAF routinely encounters
flying over the varying Indian landscape with
deserts to the North and dense vegetation and
hills towards South Gujrat.
After the familiarization of RAFO contingent
with local flying operational procedures at the
base, the exercise commenced on 17 Oct 2011. The
four day long exercise involved a variety of flying
missions from each other’s best practices in terms
of operational, maintenance and administrative
procedures. The exercise gave vast exposure to
the aircrew of RAFO and IAF, towards missions
involving long duration sorties with in-flight
refuelling, large force strike packages, air-to-ground
bombing and maritime strike roles routinely performed
by the IAF both independently and in mixed operations.
This exercise did not only enrich the IAF and
RAFO professionally but culturally as well. The
Omani people and Indians share a similar culture.
The Exercise provided an opportunity of rich interaction
between the personnel of both countries. Veterans
of Ex- Eastern Bridge-I in 2009, also got a chance
to meet old friends from RAFO. This has strengthened
the bond between the Air Forces, the IAF and RAFO.
At the culmination of the exercise, an informal
social interaction and a friendly football match
between the teams of the participating contingents
was organised with an aim to enhance mutual understanding
and bonhomie. The Omani’s have shown a fondness
for Indian cuisine and have especially liked the
Khakras, Samosas and Dhoklas.
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