IAF Su-30MKI, MIG-21, MIG-27 and French Rafale fighters The fifth Indo-French bilateral Air Exercise “Garuda-V” was held from 2-13 ...
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| IAF Su-30MKI, MIG-21, MIG-27 and French Rafale fighters |
The fifth Indo-French bilateral Air Exercise “Garuda-V” was held from 2-13 June at Indian Air Force Station Jodhpur, with both sides fielding their frontline fighters.
Indian AirForce fielded its frontline Sukhoi Su-30 MKI, Mig-27 (UPG), Mig-21 Bison fighters, along with IL-76 Phalcon AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System), IL-78 aerial refuelers, C-17 and An-32 transport planes.
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| Rafale and Su-30 MKIs on tarmac |
The exercise aimed to enhance operational co-operation, interoperability improvement and validate capabilities of the two forces.
Both the Air Forces practised surgical strikes and carried out joint missions.
IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and his French counterpart General Denis Mercier made their sorties on Rafale and Su-30 MKI's respectively.
India is in final stage of negotiations with France to acquire 126 Rafale fighters for $10.4 billion, to bolster its dwindling fighter fleet. The deal has been hit with several delays over license manufacture workshare agreement and Technology Transfer (ToT), which now had been solved.
During the first week, familiarization flights were carried out with, one against one, two against one and two against two combinations, following which Large Employement Force (LFE) missions began.
French and Indian crews carried out missions using their aircraft in realistic complex tactical missions including air defence, escort, ground attack, air interdiction and joint air patrols..
The LFE required pilots to apply skills in planning and conducting large-scale employment of air assets while either attacking or defending an objective, employing effective command and control and also accomplishing aerial refueling.
There were two overall mission focuses during the LFE: offensive airpower and defensive counter air. For the offensive portion, the pilots demonstrated their abilities to go into an enemy area and provide air support by airdropping supplies or special forces, or simulating a target hits. For the defensive portion, the pilots were tasked to defend a base or particular area from enemy attacks.
The training enhanced interoperability between the two air forces in a non-NATO standards.
