Gwalior: Signalling a new high in the level of military cooperation between the two countries, Indian Air Force's (IAF) frontline aircrafts and pilots today (Feb 25, 2004) crossed swords, albeit mock, with the technological might of US Air Force (USAF) over the skies of Central India and the honours were evenly shared.

Rounding off a 10-day hectic first ever joint fighter exercises with the USAF F-15 Eagles, Air Marshal Ajit Bhavnani and American officials indicated that in the coming months the scope of such fighter exercises would be expanded to include the US force's mainstay F-16 fighter Falcons as well as the just rolled out F-22.

"The two countries are also likely to project the subject of sharing experiences in the high altitude precision bombing to be included in the next series of combat exercises," US officials said. The comment is significant, as US is yet to share this technology and its lethal use in Afghanistan and Iraq with many countries.

The inclusion of sharing experiences in the high altitude bombing would come up at the joint Air Force steering committee meeting to be held in New Delhi in April.

Pitted against the F-15C fielding one of the most advanced long-range air-to-air Sidewinder missiles, the IAF pilots manoeuvring their Su-30k, Mirage 2000, MiG-29, MiG-27 and the upgraded MiG-21 Bison put up an impressive show, US pilots said.