Cope India 2006, the major exercise being staged in India by USAF and the Indian Air Force, is getting interesting. For the first time, USAF fighter pilots have gone up against India’s newest and most advanced aircraft—the Russia-designed Su-30 MKI. The MKI has thrust-vectoring capability, making it highly maneuverable. The air-to-air encounter unfolded on Nov. 9, said USAF. It pitted two F-16s against the Indian fighter. Some 250 PACAF airmen have deployed to India for the two-week exercise. No word yet on the result.
Lockheed Martin plans to enter the Advanced Tactical Trainer fray to supply the Air Force with a new jet to bridge between undergraduate flight instruction and fighter training units, but declined to say whether it will offer a T-50A derivative, a different non-developmental airplane, or a clean-sheet design. It's comments…