Indian and Russian forces drill with Su-30SM fighter jets and Mi-8 choppers at the Indra-2026 military exercise in Russia

Indian and Russian air force crews practiced joint drills in Russia’s Chelyabinsk region as part of the wider inter-service Indra-2026 military exercise.

The Russian Aerospace Forces and the Indian Air Force (IAF) teams engaged in joint operations in Su-30SM fighter jets during the drill. The focus of the operations was on actions against small, low-flying targets and destroying carriers of short- and medium-range aerial weaponry.

The personnel also performed air combat maneuvers at medium and low altitudes, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

The Su-30SM is a modernized version of the Su-30MKI model, the IAF’s workhorse fighter jet.…