Five day exercise between India and France will begin from today. ‘Desert Night’, Rafael to be from both sides Indo-French airmen will conduct exercises in Jodhpur from Wednesday.
The cargo carrier Vimal Glab Master has reached Jodhpur for the ‘Desert Night’ exercise carrying goods from the Indian Air Force. With this, airmen from both countries have also reached. The Jodhpur airbase is ready for the maneuvers lasting till 24 January.
As many as 175 airmen will join the exercise along with French fighter aircraft. Indian airmen will show their skills with Sukhoi, Mirage, and Rafael. In this exercise, all eyes are on Rafael who was inducted into the Air Force last year.
‘Desert Knight’ maneuvers being seen as Rafael’s test This would be the first time Rafael would be involved in any exercise in the country. This maneuver is being seen as an examination of Rafael. This maneuver is considered different from the ‘Garuda’ between India and France two years ago.
This will include multi-role tanker airbus A-330, tactical transport aircraft A-400 and 175 along with Rafael of France. Mirage-2000, Sukhoi-30 MKI, Rafale aircraft will be participating from India.
The Indian side will include Mirage-2000, Sukhoi, Rafael, flight refueling tanker IL-78, AWACS, and other aircraft.
It is noteworthy that Rafael has shown his strength in the joint exercises of India and the France Air Force in 2014.
During that time there was an exciting fight between Rafael and Sukhai. The then Airchief Marshal Arup Raha was the first to test the Rafale in Jodhpur.
It was only after this that the Rafale deal process went ahead. Significantly, India has bought Rafale from France itself.
Five day maneuver with the French Air Force The Rafale aircraft will also be launched by the Indian Air Force in a five-day exercise beginning with the French Air Force near Jodhpur in Rajasthan on Wednesday. In this way, Rafale aircraft from both sides will participate.
Air Force reported that Rafale, Airbus A-330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), A-400M Tactical Transport Aircraft will participate in the ‘X-Desert Night-21’ from France.
While around 175 air force personnel from France will participate in the exercise.
Unique maneuvers: Rafael from both sides According to the statement issued by the Air Force, “This maneuver is unique because Rafale planes are being launched from both sides.” This is a sign of increased dialogue between the two major air forces.
The last exercise was in France in 2019 The exercise is taking place at a time when the Indian Air Force is keeping its advance fronts bases at a high level of combat preparedness across the country in view of the Sino-India border dispute in eastern Ladakh.
Let us know that the air forces of India and France have been practicing ‘Garuda’ for many years and the last exercise was in France in 2019.