NEW DELHI: India and France will on Sunday kick off the ‘Garuda’ air combat exercise at Mont-de-Marsan to enhance military interoperability and coordination and boost the strategic partnership between the two countries. The IAF has deployed six Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets, backed by IL-78 mid-air refuelling and C-17 Globemaster-III strategic lift aircraft, for the eighth edition of the Garuda exercise with the French Air and Space Force (FASF) in France from Nov 16 to 27. The Sukhois will operate with French multirole fighters like Rafales in complex simulated air combat scenarios, focusing on air-to-air combat, air defence, and joint strike operations during the exercise.”The exercise aims to refine tactics and procedures in a realistic operational environment, enabling mutual learning and fostering interoperability between the IAF and FASF,” an officer said. “The exercise also provides an opportunity for professional interaction, exchange of operational knowledge and the sharing of best practices between the two air forces.
