IAF to deploy Rafale, Sukhoi, Mirage 2000 jets in exercise with French air force

The French and Indian air forces have been conducting 'Garuda' exercises for the last several years as part of efforts to boost operational cooperation

IAF-to hold Ex Desert Knight with France in Jodhpur, Rafale from the two forces will engage in wargaming

New Delhi, Jan 19: India and France will have a five-day long air exercise at Jodhpur, beginning on Wednesday, in which the Rafale fighter jets of the two air forces will be pitted against each other wargaming combat missions.

In what would be the first exercise for the Indian Rafale jets, the two air forces will carry out complex operational maneuvers over the desert sharing best practices and enhancing the combat capabilities.

Besides its brand new Rafale jets, the IAF contingent will include Mirage 2000, Su-30 MKI, IL-78 Flight refuelling aircraft, Phalcon AWACS and DRDO-made AEW&C aircraft. The French Air and Space Force will participate with Rafale, Airbus A-330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport, A-400M Tactical Transport aircraft and approximately 175 personnel.

Being held at the Air Force Station Jodhpur, the Ex Desert Knight-21 will be a new addition to the growing Indo-French military relations.

The two sides held six editions of bilateral air exercises named 'Garuda', the latest being in 2019 at Air Force Base Mont-de-Marsan in France.

As measures to further the existing cooperation, the two forces have been utilising available opportunities to conduct 'hop-exercises', an IAF spokesperson said in a statement. A French deployment on way to Australia in 2018 for Ex Pitchblack was hosted by IAF at Air Force Stations Agra and Gwalior for exercise with fighters and tanker aircraft

The present French detachment for Ex Desert Knight-21 is deployed in Asia as part of their 'Skyros Deployment' and will ferry in forces to Air Force Station Jodhpur.

The exercise is unique as it includes fielding of Rafale aircraft by both sides and is indicative of the growing interaction between the two premier air forces.

As the two detachments commence their air exchange from January 20 onwards, they will put into practice operational experience gained across terrains and spectrums and endeavour to exchange ideas and best practices to enhance interoperability.