IAF’s Sukhoi Su-30 MKI Jet To Battle Against French Rafale Under Indo-French Garuda Air Exercise

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will take part in the Garuda VI bilateral exercise with its French counterpart from 1 to 12 July in France, reports Zee News. Four Su-30 MKI along with an IL-78 flight refueling aircraft of the IAF will participate in the Garuda VI, one of the biggest air exercises that is being planned between the two air forces.

According to the report, IAF's C-17 strategic lift aircraft will provide the logistic support to the 120 air-warrior-strong contingent during the induction and de-induction phase. The Indian contingent departed from Air Force Station Bareilly and Agra on 25 June.

During the exercise, the IAF’s Su-30 MKIs will be pitted against the French Air Force's multirole Rafale aircraft. The exercise is aimed at enhancing interoperability between the two air forces apart from providing an opportunity for mutual learning from each other’s best practices.

This is the sixth edition of exercise Garuda and will take place at French Air Force Base, Mont-de-Marsan in France. The last exercise, Garuda V, was held at Air Force Station Jodhpur in June 2014.