Indian and French fighter jets are back in the same sky, flying side by side as this year’s edition of Exercise Garuda gets underway at the Mont-de-Marsan Airbase in southwest France. Su-30MKIs from the Indian Air Force and Rafales from the French Air and Space Force have begun coordinated missions, practicing everything from dogfights to defensive manoeuvres and precision strikes. Photos released by the IAF show the two aircraft weaving through formation drills with IL-78 tankers and C-17 transport aircraft supporting the missions in the background.
This is the eighth time India and France have held the Garuda exercise, a long-running partnership designed to sharpen interoperability and deepen defence ties. The Indian contingent arrived in France on November 10 with its Su-30MKIs, air-to-air refuelling support, and heavy-lift aircraft carrying the crews and equipment needed for the multi-day engagement.
Indian pilots are flying the Su-30MKI while the French side is fielding its frontline Rafale fighters. The teams are running through combat simulations that mirror real-world battle conditions, giving both forces the chance to exchange tactics, improve joint responses, and strengthen coordination for future operations. The Ministry of Defence says the exercise is meant to enhance combat readiness while also reinforcing the strong relationship between the two countries.
The Su-30MKI continues to be one of the IAF’s most important platforms. Built through a Russia-India partnership and produced by HAL, the twin-seat fighter can hit Mach 2, fly 3,000 km on internal fuel, and stretch that range to nearly 8,000 km with aerial refuelling. HAL is preparing to produce another 72 of them to further expand the fleet. India also operates 36 Rafales, and seeing both fighters in the same airspace underscores the growing depth of cooperation between New Delhi and Paris.
As these machines soar together over France, the exercise becomes a visible reminder of the IAF’s capability, confidence, and readiness.
