When India's Su-30MKIs and French Rafales paint the sky with might! First pictures of 'Garuda 25' drop!

Bilateral air exercise 'Garuda 25' featuring the Indian Air Force (IAF) and French Air and Space Force (FASF) has begun at Mont-de-Marsan in France. The initial photos of the exercise were shared online by the IAF on Monday afternoon.

'Garuda 25' is the eighth edition of the aerial exercise and the IAF contingent had reached France on November 10, Monday. While the IAF pilots flew Su-30MKI for the exercise, their French counterparts used Rafale fighter jets, the X post showed. "Indian Air Force Su-30MKI and French Air and Space Force Rafale aircraft soared into the skies, commencing coordinated missions as part of the bilateral air exercise. The engagement reinforces strong interoperability and deep defence cooperation between the two Air Forces," the IAF said on the microblogging site alongside images from Mont-de-Marsan in southwestern France.

Earlier this week, an official release by the Defence Ministry had said that IAF's Su-30MKI will operate alongside the French multirole fighters in complex simulated air combat scenario during the exercise. The focus of this edition's drills was air-to-air combat, air defence, and joint strike operations. "This exercise aims to refine tactics and procedures in a realistic operational environment, enabling mutual learning and fostering interoperability between the IAF and the FASF," it had said.

"Exercise Garuda 25 also provides an opportunity for professional interaction, exchange of operational knowledge, and sharing of best practices between the two Air Forces. Participation in this exercise underscores the IAF's commitment to engage constructively with friendly foreign Air Forces through multi-lateral exercises, promoting mutual understanding and cooperation in the field of air operations," the statement added.

The Indian contingent will be provided airlift support by the C-17 Globemaster III, for the induction and de-induction phases of the exercise, while the IL-78 air-to-air refuelling tankers were to be used for extending the range and endurance of the participating fighters.

IAF's Su-30MKIs Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a two-seater, multi-role air superiority fighter developed by Russian aircraft maker Sukhoi and built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Based on the Sukhoi Su-30 fighter aircraft, Su-30 MKI is equipped with thrust vectoring control and canards, and is considered to be a cornerstone of the Indian Air Force (IAF) combat fleet. HAL has played a pivotal role in its licence production and integration of indigenous systems.

Developed through a collaboration between Sukhoi Design Bureau of Russia and HAL, Sukhoi Su-30MKI, a variant of the Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30, is specifically tailored to meet the demands of the IAF. The aircraft, which is now a major part of the Indian Navy's defence capabilities, can reach speeds up to Mach 2 and has a combat range of 3,000 km, extendable to 8,000 km with in-flight refuelling.

Earlier reports had suggested that HAL is pushing for the proposal of the IAF to add as many as 72 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets to its fleet. The Nashik facility of the HAL, originally established as a dedicated hub for the Su-30MKI, is being tasked to meet the urgent production demands of this fighter aircraft.