The 400-year-old relationship between India and France and the over six decades of partnership between the Indian and French military aviation, witnessed the flagging of another significant milestone with the successful completion of the Indo-French air exercise “Garuda” held at Indian Air Force (IAF) station, in Jodhpur from June 2 to 13 this year.

Conducted after a recess of every two to three years, this particular series of exercises between the Air Forces of France and India codenamed as “Exercise Garuda”, has been held alternately in India and France at different locations. The most recent exercise held early June 2014, was the fifth edition in the series and the previous four editions were held as under:

• February 2003. Exercise Garuda I, the first exercise in the series was held at IAF Station at Gwalior. This was the first exercise between the IAF and a foreign air force involving combat aircraft. The exercise was witnessed by the French Chief of Staff.
• June 2005. Exercise Garuda II held at the French Air Force Base, Istres, France. This was the first exercise involving the IAF that was held in Europe.
• February 2007. Exercise Garuda III was held at the IAF airbase at Kalaikunda in Eastern India.
• June 2010. Exercise Garuda IV conducted at Istres, France, was the first exercise in which cross refuelling on each other’s tanker aircraft was practised. For the first time, this exercise also included the Republic of Singapore Air Force making it a trilateral effort.

Objectives of Exercise Garuda

The aims and objectives of the Garuda series of Indo-French exercises is to provide mutual benefit from the interaction, to develop a better understanding of each other’s operational capabilities and to imbibe professional skills available with both the participating air forces as well as to enhance interoperability and cooperation between them. Such a joint exercise enables both the air forces to validate their capabilities and help them in appreciating the intricacies of planning and conduct of combat missions through simulation of an operational environment. On a higher plane, the aim of such an exercise is to enhance defence cooperation between India and France.

Participating Forces

For Exercise Garuda V, the French Air Force had deployed at IAF Station Jodhpur, four of the frontline omni-role combat aircraft—the Rafale from their No 3/30 Fighter Squadron based at Lorraine and one C-135 FR flight refuelling aircraft from the 2/91 Air Refuelling Group located at Bretagne. A total of 94 French Air Force personnel were also deployed including nine Rafale aircrew and 27 technical hands from the Rafale fleet. Rafale aircraft of the French Air Force have had an excellent track record of their role and performance combat operations in Afghanistan, Libya and Mali in the recent years.

Participation by the IAF involved assets of the two major operational commands namely the South Western Air Command based at Gandhi Nagar and the Central Air Command located at Bamrauli, Allahabad. The participating assets consisted of aircraft from its frontline fighter fleet that included four each of Sukhoi-30MKI, MiG-27 UPG and MiG-21Bison. In addition, one of each type of the latest force multipliers that have been inducted into the IAF such as the Ilyushin Il-78 flight refuelling aircraft and the Ilyushin Il-76 Airborne Early-Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, also participated.

Conduct of the Exercise

General Denis Mercier, Chief of the French Air Force, accompanied by Francois Richier Ambassador of France in Delhi and Group Captain Benedict Smith the French Defence Attaché from France in the French Embassy at Delhi, arrived at Jodhpur on June 2, 2014, to participate in the fifth edition of the Indo-French air exercise Garuda V. Also arrived on the scene to grace the occasion was Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), IAF. To kick off the exercise, General Denis Mercier, the French Air Force Chief, flew in an IAF Su-30MKI on a simulated combat mission and in turn, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, CAS, IAF, spearheaded a similar mission flying a French Rafale. The two Air Force Chiefs interacted with the pilots and technicians of both the Air Forces. This indeed was an inspiring demonstration of the spirit of teamwork by the leadership of both the air forces and was undoubtedly the main attraction of the day.

During this fortnight long exercise, both the air forces undertook missions based on their operational philosophy to cope with a wide range of challenging scenarios appropriately simulated. The missions included the complete range of air defence and strike, duly supported by in-flight refuelling of aircraft during sorties undertaken by them. During the exercise, the participants flew multiple missions, including close combat engagement of large forces and practised protection of high value aerial assets at the strategic airbase located near the Indo-Pak border.

It is noteworthy that this was the first time that the Rafale combat aircraft that has been selected as the preferred platform for the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) contract for the IAF, participated in an air exercise in India. To that extent, the timing of the exercise was significant. Of course the Indian public has had the occasion earlier to witness display by the Rafale at the Aero India international air show held at IAF Station Yelahanka on the outskirts of Bengaluru. With a new and dynamic administration at the helm of affairs of the nation, the IAF is optimistic about the speedy finalisation of the tender for MMRCA that has been inordinately delayed and award of contract. Induction of the fleet of 126 Rafale combat aircraft will not only provide the much needed relief to the IAF and reverse the rapid erosion in its operational capability, but will also propel the two nations to new levels of cooperation in the regimes of defence, technology and industrial activity.

While Garuda V is an air exercise that was conducted in a professional and friendly spirit contributing significantly to the camaraderie between the units involved, it will strengthen the bond between the air forces of France and India. But equally importantly, successful completion of the exercise signifies forward movement in the attainment of a new level in the strategic partnership agreement between the two nations forged in 1998. The strategic partnership is founded on cooperation in the regime of defence, nuclear energy, counter-terrorism and space technology.