In Pictures: Exercise Cobra Warrior

Flying the farthest—and arguably among the most eagerly awaited visitors—were the Mirage 2000I/Tis from the Indian Air Force. The deployment of six aircraft, including single- and twin-seat models from Gwalior in India’s Madhya Pradesh region, to RAF Waddington is believed to mark the first deployment of Indian Dassault Mirage 2000s to Europe. India previously has deployed its Sukhoi Su-30s to both the UK and France. The Mirage 2000s belong to the Indian Air Force’s No. 7 Sqdn., more commonly known as the Battle Axes. The 2000Is have been modified extensively since first deliveries in 1985 and are similar in capability to the Mirage 2000-5 with upgraded avionics, radar and self-defensive systems. The upgrade also enabled integration of the MBDA Mica air-to-air missile and the widening of its air-to-ground armament options.

The Mirage 2000s were accompanied to the UK by an Ilyushin Il-78 “Midas” tanker. A conversion of the Russian-made Il-76 airlifter, the Il-78 is a three-point, hose-and-drogue tanker with underwing hose pods as well as an offset-from-centerline pod fitted to a pylon on the port side of the rear fuselage. Aviation Week Intelligence Network data suggest India operates six such Il-78 tankers, alongside 17 Il-76s, for transport missions. The Indian contingent also was supported by a pair of Boeing C-17s.

The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) was present with six Eurofighters from several different flying units, which were co-located with the Royal Air Force’s Typhoons at RAF Coningsby. That air base is just a few minutes flight time from RAF Waddington, where the other international contingents were located, allowing the Saudis to make use of Waddington’s Typhoon-related facilities. Like their British counterparts, the Saudi Typhoons regularly fly with a targeting pod on the centerline pylon to support air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The Saudi presence at Cobra Warrior marks the second deployment of RSAF Typhoons to the UK.

With its contingent of six F/A-18 Hornets, the Finnish Air Force was another major participant in the exercise, conducting air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The Finnish Hornets’ days are numbered—Helsinki has selected Lockheed Martin’s F-35A Joint Strike Fighter as a replacement for the platform, with first deliveries expected in 2025.

The days also are numbered for Belgium’s Lockheed Martin F-16s, which were present for part of the exercise. Like the Finnish Hornets, they are to be replaced by the F-35s. The black and yellow colors on this aircraft are not part of some exuberant experimental camouflage, but instead mark the squadron’s involvement in NATO’s Tiger Association.

A pair of RAF Typhoons from RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland, fly over the North Sea after refueling from an RAF Voyager tanker during the exercise. The Voyagers flew daily in support of the exercise, refueling RAF and Saudi Typhoons and Finnish F/A-18s. The Indian Hornets did not conduct aerial refueling, which may explain why their aircraft flew daily with three external fuel tanks to extend their endurance.