Vientiane: Australia and India have signed an arrangement to enable the Royal Australian Air Force and the Indian Armed Forces to conduct air-to-air erfuelling, a statement by the Australian Defence Minister said.
Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, Pat Conroy MP, and Minister for Defence Rajnath Singh announced the arrangement during bilateral discussions on Thursday, as per the statement.
Under the arrangement, RAAF’s air-to-air refuelling aircraft, the KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, will be able to refuel Indian Armed Forces aircraft.
Deputy Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Harvey Reynolds, AM, signed the arrangement on Tuesday in Delhi at Australia-India Air Staff Talks, the statement said.
Reynolds welcomed the arrangement, saying it strengthens the defence relationship between Australia and India. “India is a top-tier security partner for Australia, and through our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership we are continuing to prioritise practical and tangible cooperation that directly contributes to Indo-Pacific stability,” Reynolds said.
“The ability to conduct air-to-air refuelling with the Indian Armed Forces elevates our interoperability and enables us to cooperate more effectively in a range of different scenarios. This arrangement is a significant step forward in our relationship with India and will provide valuable opportunities for our personnel to work closely together, share knowledge and expertise, and build trust and understanding,” the statement quoted Reynolds as saying.
RAAF also conducts training and engagement activities with Indian Navy P-81 Neptune surveillance aircraft. The signing of this arrangement is the first step towards KC-30A refuelling the P-81, increasing India’s reach and persistence in the Indo-Pacific region, as per the statement.
