In A First, Indian Air Force Conducts Combined Firing Exercise Of Four Different Class Of Missiles At Suryalanka

The Indian Air Force conducted combined guided weapons firing of Surface-to-Air Missiles from the Air Force Station located at Suryalanka, Andhra Pradesh.

The first-of-its-kind exercise for the Air Force was code-named ‘CROSS BOW-18’, reports Press Trust of India.

Senior IAF officers along with Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, witnessed the exercise held at Suryalanka on Friday (7 December) and Saturday (8 December).

CROSS BOW-18 saw the successful firing of four different classes of missiles like Spyder, Akash, IGLA and OSA-AK-M, stated a defence release.

"The exercise was carried out on December 5, 7 and 8 in both day and night in an integrated networked environment," said the release.

The Air Chief Marshal lauded the efforts made towards successfully conducting the exercise while interacting with missile combat crew and the Air Force Station personnel.

CROSS BOW-18 was yet another significant milestone achieved by the IAF and would help the combat skills of the missile squadron and strengthen the country’s air defence preparedness, said the Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa.

Air Force Station Commander Group Captain RM Kumarasamy, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (Southern Air Command) Air Marshal B Suresh and other senior officers were also present at the exercise.