MONT-DE-MARSAN, October 18 — The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the French Air and Space Force (FASF) concluded the intensive fortnight-long eighth edition of the bilateral air exercise 'Garuda-VIII' at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base in France on Sunday.
The deployed IAF contingent—comprising frontline Su-30MKI multi-role fighters, C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifters, and IL-78 mid-air refuelling tankers—participated in complex air combat engagements alongside French Rafale fighters, Mirage 2000s, and A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft. Flight crews executed Large Force Engagements (LFE), dynamic Beyond Visual Range (BVR) combat scenarios, and defensive counter-air missions.
Air staff leadership from both nations observed that the exercise provided rich operational cross-pollination in modern air warfare tactics, validating seamless interoperability and reaffirming the robust defence pillar of the 25-year-old India-France Strategic Partnership.
The historical evolution of India-France defence cooperation (the triad of bilateral drills: Garuda for Air Force, Varuna for Navy, and Shakti for Army), logistics sharing agreements (MLSA signed in 2018), and joint security interests in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) are essential components of UPSC GS-II (International Relations) and CDS exams.