Surface-to-air missile tests a hit in Guntur suryalanka

Vijayawada: The Indian Air Force successfully tested surface-to-air missiles of four different class– Akash, Spyder, OSA-AK-M and IGLA at the Air Force Station at Suryalanka over the past three days day and night in an integrated network environment.

Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, Chief of the Air Staff, arrived at Air Force Station Suryalankla on a two-day visit and witnessed the combined guided weapons’ firing exercise of Surface to Air Missiles, code-named Exercise CROSS BOW – 18.

Air Marshal B. Suresh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command and Gp Captain R.M. Kumarasamy, Station Commander, Air Force Station Suryalanka received Birender Singh Dhanoa and explained about the CROSS-BOW-18 exercise arrangements.

Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa said that this was a first of its kind exercise undertaken by the Indian Air Force in which firing of four different classes of missiles – Akash, Spyder, OSA-AK-M and IGLA- were successfully carried out for three days during day and night in an integrated networked environment.

He along with AOC-in-C Southern Air Command and number of other dignitaries witnessed the missile launch.

Later, while interacting with the station personnel and the missile combat crew, ACM Dhanoa lauded IAF’s efforts towards the successful conduct of the exercise. He conveyed that Exercise Crossbow-18 was yet another major milestone achieved by the IAF.

He said that this exercise will help to improve the combat skills of the missile Squadron crew and will go a long way in strengthening the Air Defence preparedness of the country.

Addressing the missile combat crew, ACM Dhanoa stressed that improving professional skills during exercises of this kind will improve the combat capability of the IAF. He also advised Air warriors to be operation-ready at all times.