U.S., India Military Exercise: A Test of U.S. Air Superiority

The U.S. and Indian air forces began a 12-day joint exercise in India on Nov. 7. Cope India 2005, as the exercise is called, will test Indian pilots' ability to operate in an environment controlled by airborne warning and control system aircraft. The last time the two forces held joint exercises, the Indians proved to be a tougher opponent than expected, reportedly embarrassing U.S. flyers on several occasions. Should this happen again, the exercise will illustrate the narrowing gap between the powerful U.S. Air Force and the increasingly sophisticated air forces of other countries.