In a first, IAF to deploy Rafale, Sukhoi in exercise with French air force
20 Jan 2021 10:35:30
New Delhi, Jan 20: The Indian Air Force (IAF) and French Air and Space Force will commence the bilateral exercise 'Desert Knight-21' at Air Force Station Jodhpur from January 20. The exercise is being viewed as an important milestone in the engagement between the two countries, the defense ties between which were strengthened most recently with the acquisition of the Rafale fighters after a delayed and scrapped Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program.
The five-day exercise will witness the participation of a plethora of aircraft including the recently procured Rafale fighter jets. Apart from them, IAF's Mirage 2000, Sukhoi-30 MKI, IL-78 will be the other aircraft that will feature in this bilateral exercise.
The French side will participate with Rafale, Airbus A-330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), A-400M Tactical Transport aircraft among others. "Indian Air Force preparing to #Bienvenue @Armee_de_lair as the IAF and the French Air and Space Force come together for a bilateral Air Exercise, #DesertKnight21, at Air Force Station Jodhpur from 20 to 24 Jan 21 (sic)," the IAF tweeted ahead of the exercise.
This exercise is unique as it includes fielding of Rafale aircraft by both sides and is indicative of the growing interaction between the two premiers Air Forces. The fighters were acquired by the IAF from French aviation major Dassault as a part of Rs 59,000 crore program.
As the two detachments commence their air exchange from today onwards, they will put into practice operational experience gained across terrains and spectrums and endeavor to exchange ideas and best practices to enhance interoperability.
As part of Indo-French defense cooperation, both countries have held six editions of air exercises named 'Garuda', the latest being in 2019 at Air Force Base Mont-de-Marsan, France. As measures to further enhance the existing cooperation, the two forces have been gainfully utilizing available opportunities to conduct 'hop-exercises'.
In 2018, the French Air and Space Force deployment while ferrying to Australia for Ex Pitchblack was hosted by IAF at Air Force Stations Agra and Gwalior for exercise with fighters and MRTT aircraft. Presently, the 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.
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