Source: Press Information Bureau
Exercise Garuda 2019, a bilateral Indo-French large force employment warfare exercise hosted by French Air Force (FAF) from 01 to 12 Jul 19 at Mont-de-Marsan France, was successfully completed.
Key highlights
- Garuda-VI was the largest international air training exercise for the year 2019.
- The participating aircraft included four Su-30 MKI fighters besides one IL-78 and two C-17 aircraft that provided logistic support during induction and de-induction. The contingent departed for the exercise from India in June 2019 with an objective of operating in the International environment at Mont-de-Marsan, France.
- Objectives for the exercise were to foster closer relationship between India and France so as to promote interoperability through exchange of knowledge and experience.
- The exercise ensured that the participating forces were exposed to operational environment in an international scenario.
- Garuda VI was planned in two phases. In these phases, both IAF and FAF flew missions involving Large Force Engagement (LFE) air combat exercises in near realistic environment and exchanged best practices towards enhancing our operational capability.
Significance:
- Participation in an International air exercise assumes importance in view of the continued engagement of the IAF with friendly foreign countries.
- Over the last decade, IAF has been actively participating in operational exercises hosted by various countries, wherein collaborative engagements have been undertaken with the best air forces in the world.
- It was a unique, fascinating and timeless learning at the exercise for the IAF contingent.
- The Operational lessons learnt by IAF during the exercise will assist IAF in adding more teeth to its overall war waging capabilities and assist us in better jointmanship with the friendly forces.
