The Indian Air Force (IASF) and French Air and Space Force (FASF) participated in Exercise Desert Knight 2021 (Ex DK-21) at Air Force Station Jodhpur from 20 to 24 January.
The French detachment for Ex Desert Knight-21 was deployed in Asia as part of their ‘Skyros Deployment’ and had ferried in forces to Air Force Station Jodhpur.
The French participated with Rafale, Airbus A-330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), A-400M Tactical Transport aircraft and approximately 175 personnel.
The IAF participated with Mirage 2000, Su-30 MKI, Rafale, IL-78 Flight Refuelling Aircraft, airborne warning and control systems (AWACS) and airborne early warning & control (AEW&C) aircraft.
In a press release issued on January 25, the French Ministry of Defense highlighted that the two air arms worked together to carry out aerial combat missions, as well as air-to-air refuelling operations. It quoted the IAF’s Chief of Air Force Staff (CAS), Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria as saying: “I am sure that our ability to work together will grow exponentially in the years to come. I call for the ever greater development of interactions between our two countries and our two air forces.”
The exercise marked an important milestone in the series of engagements between the two air forces. As measures to further the existing cooperation, the two forces have been gainfully utilising available opportunities to conduct ‘hop-exercises’.
Rafale aircraft from both sides along with Su-30MKI and Mirage-2000 aircrafts of the IAF undertook complex missions including large force engagements. Both air forces exercised in realistic settings with the aim of enhancing operational capabilities and interoperability. The exercise provided an opportunity to share best practices and evolve operational concepts; particularly for effective combat employment of the Rafale fleet.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Bipin Rawat, visited Air Force Station Jodhpur on 21 January 2021 and flew on-board the MRTT along with Maj Gen Laurent Lherbette, the FASF contingent leader. He was given an overview on conduct of the exercise and witnessed air-to-air refuelling operations by IAF and FASF fighters.
On 23 January 2021, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria visited Air Force Station Jodhpur along with the ambassador of France to India, Emmanuel Lenain. The CAS appreciated the complexity of operations conducted and interoperability achieved by participants within a short span of four days. He also commended the planning, operational and maintenance staff from both sides for smooth and safe conduct of the exercise.
As part of Indo-French defence cooperation, the Indian Air Force and the French Air and Space Force held six editions of air exercises named ‘Garuda.’
The FASF and IAF have come together regularly since 1953. In recent years, the two air arms have notably participated in Australia’s multinational Pitch Black exercise in 2018, along with the biennially-held bilateral Garuda exercise, which was last held at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base (Base Aérienne 118, BA 118) in southwestern France in July 2019.
The French Air and Space Force deployment, while ferrying to Australia for Exercise Pitchblack in 2018, was hosted by the IAF at the air force stations in Agra and Gwalior for exercise with fighters and MRTT aircraft.
This time, the French Air Force brought one A330 MRTT (Phénix) tanker for training purposes. The IAF plans to lease one A330 MRTT tanker from France for training purposes and five more to act as aerial refuelers for their fighter jets.
India and France also conduct hop exercises, in which, if India or France are moving to a third country for a joint exercise, a short joint exercise is conducted if the other country falls en route. For example, in 2018, while going to Australia for a joint exercise called Pitch Black, France conducted a joint exercise with India. The exercise provided an opportunity for the two sides to learn from each other›s best practices, besides improving interoperability. Interoperability is an essential component in multinational task force operations either as part of the UN or regional grouping.
IAF and FASF are also scheduled to participate in Ex Desert Flag hosted by UAE Air Force along with other friendly countries in March 2021.
India is also slated to take part in a French Navy exercise “La Perouse” in the Eastern Indian Ocean from 5 to 7 April 2021 with INS Satpura, Kiltan and a P-8I long range maritime patrol aircraft. Navies of the US, Japan and Australia have also planned their participation.
