Sukhoi-30 vs Gripen: India, Thailand set for key aerial showdown on Feb 9
India Today
Indian Air Force will deploy Sukhoi-30 MKI jets for a joint air exercise with Thailand's Gripen fighters near the Malacca Strait on February 9, marking its first international drill of 2026.
Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets of the Indian Air Force (IAF) will participate in a joint air exercise with Gripen fighters of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) near the Malacca Strait on February 9, defence sources told India Today.
The exercise, to be held near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the North Malacca Strait, will mark the IAF’s first international air drill of 2026. It comes amid heightened operational engagements following Operation Sindoor.
India will deploy four to six Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft operating from air bases in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, while a similar number of Gripen jets will fly in from Thai air bases. The drill will also involve IAF mid-air refuelling tankers and an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, adding significant operational complexity. Air Force's (IAF) fighter aircraft Sukhoi Su-30 takes off to perform maneuvers at Aero India 2025. (Photo: PTI)
Defence officials said the primary aim of the exercise is to enhance interoperability, coordination and the exchange of best operational practices between the two air forces.
The joint drill will also include maritime search and rescue operations, with naval vessels deployed at sea to support air manoeuvres. A key objective is to test logistics endurance and operational sustainability in island territories -- a crucial capability in the strategically sensitive Indian Ocean Region.
The India–Thailand engagement forms part of an increasingly packed exercise calendar for the IAF after Operation Sindoor. Over the next two months, the force is scheduled to participate in three major air exercises with friendly foreign air forces, including those of France, the United States and Greece. Gripen fighters of Thailand. (Photo: X/Saab)
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