U.S., India to begin Cope India bilateral exercise Published Oct. 9, 2009 By Capt. Genieve David 13th Air Force Public Affairs HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- The U.S. and Indian air forces will train together during exercise Cope India Oct. 15-24 at Air Force Station Agra in Uttar Predesh, India. This year's Cope India will be an airlift exercise that focuses on the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission. More than 150 U.S. Airmen, along with three C-130H Hercules, one C-17 Globemaster III, and one C-130J, will join Indian Air Force Airmen and one IL-76 Gajraj, four AN-32 Sutlejes, two MI-17 Prataps, and one Chetak Alouette III for the exercise. "The U.S. Air Force looks forward to this opportunity to work with the Indian Air Force," said Raymond Bundschuh, 13th Air Force lead planner for the exercise. "Exercises like Cope India strengthen solid military-to-military relationships with our air forces in the region as we train together." Cope India participants will exchange airlift, airland and airdrop delivery techniques; participate in aeromedical and disaster management exercises; conduct cooperative flight operations, to include aircraft generation and recovery, low-level navigation, tactical airdrop, and air-land missions; and conduct subject matter expert exchanges in the operations, maintenance, and rigging disciplines. This exercise continues to strengthen the bond between the U.S. and Indian air forces, and will be the fourth installment of Cope India.