Air Force squadron leader Mark Chadwick said the exercise was to ensure personnel were up-to-date with their warfare training.

Gorgon Stare doesn't work as promised, at least according to the Air Force squadron whose job it is to test the new system.

Iskander Witwit, the deputy head of parliament's security and defense committee, said that the first 24 planes would make up two air force squadrons.

India wants to increase its air force squadrons from 34 (612 fighters) to 42 (756 fighters) by 2020 with modern aircraft.