IAF contingent for Indo-French air combat exercise flagged off

Bareilly, June 7 (PTI) An Indian Air Force (IAF)
contingent participating in the Indo-French joint air combat
exercise codenamed 'Garuda' was flagged off from here Monday.
The IAF team including six Su-30 MKI fighters, three
IL-78 mid-air flight refuellers, one Il-76 heavylift aircraft
and 230 personnel will take part in the exercise from June 14
to 25 at the Isteres air base in France, officials said.
During the exercise, for the first time the two air
forces will be joined by the Singaporean Air Force with its
American-origin Block 52 F-16s, they added.
IAF's Garuda Special Forces will be taking part in the
Indo-French Garuda series air-to-air exercises in France.
During the exercise, the French Air Force will field its
Mirage 2000 and Rafael fighters, which have been offered to
India for the ongoing competition to supply 126 medium
multi-role combat aircraft to the IAF.
The Indian team will be led by Group Captain J Mishra and
the planning, coordination and execution of different aspects
of flying and ground manoeuvres would be handled by Exercise
Director Gp Capt N N Sinha.
The Garuda series of exercises between India and France
started in 2003 aiming to enhance military ties between the
two countries and allow their air forces to understand each
other's capabilities.
"Joint exercises of this nature enhance mutual
operational understanding and refines the procedural aspects
and provides for tremendous learning experience for all the
participating air forces," officials said. PTI