Exercise Garuda 2025 (Garuda-VIII) — the 8th edition of the biennial bilateral air combat exercise between India and France — commenced on November 16 and runs until November 27, 2025, at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base in southern France. The Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed Su-30MKI multirole fighters, IL-78 mid-air refuelling tankers, and C-17 Globemaster III airlift aircraft. The French Air and Space Force (Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace) flew Rafale jets — the same aircraft India operates under the 36-Rafale deal signed in 2016. Exercise Garuda, first held in 2003, is a flagship event in the India-France Strategic Partnership elevated to the Horizon 2047 Roadmap. The exercise objectives include: enhancing air combat interoperability; sharing tactics for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions; joint logistics, CASEVAC, and operational planning exercises. France remains one of India's most significant strategic defence partners, supplying Rafale jets to the IAF and Scorpène-class submarines to the Indian Navy. The exercise is significant in the context of India's Act West policy and growing defence exports and cooperation agreements under the India-France Strategic Partnership. From the RPSC perspective, India-France defence exercises reflect India's multi-alignment foreign policy and growing role in global security architecture.
Exercise Garuda 2025: India-France Bilateral Air Combat Exercise Underway at Mont-de-Marsan; IAF Su-30MKI Flies with French Rafales
Exercise Garuda 2025 (Garuda-VIII) — the 8th edition of the biennial bilateral air combat exercise between India and France — commenced on November 16 and runs until November 27, 2025, at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base in southern France. The Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed Su-30MKI multirole fighters, IL-78 mid-air refuelling tankers, and C-17 Globemaster III airlift aircraft. The French Air and Space Force (Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace) flew Rafale jets — the same aircraft India operates under the 36-Rafale deal signed in 2016. Exercise Garuda, first held in 2003, is a flagship event in the India-France Strategic Partnership elevated to the Horizon 2047 Roadmap. The exercise objectives include: enhancing air combat interoperability; sharing tactics for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions; joint logistics, CASEVAC, and operational planning exercises. France remains one of India's most significant strategic defence partners, supplying Rafale jets to the IAF and Scorpène-class submarines to the Indian Navy. The exercise is significant in the context of India's Act West policy and growing defence exports and cooperation agreements under the India-France Strategic Partnership. From the RPSC perspective, India-France defence exercises reflect India's multi-alignment foreign policy and growing role in global security architecture.
Key facts
- Exercise Garuda 2025 (8th edition) ran November 16–27 at Mont-de-Marsan, France.
- IAF deployed Su-30MKI with IL-78 tankers and C-17 Globemaster III airlift.
- France flew Rafale jets, the same platform India operates under the 2016 deal.
- First held in 2003, Garuda is a flagship India-France strategic partnership exercise.
- Objectives include air combat interoperability and joint logistics training.
- IAF's Suratgarh and Nal air bases in Rajasthan maintain significant operational readiness.
Mains angle
Q: Evaluate the strategic significance of India-France bilateral air combat exercise Garuda 2025 for India's Strategic Partnership and defence interoperability.
Answer (50 words):
Exercise Garuda-VIII (November 16–27, 2025) at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base is the 8th biennial India-France air combat drill since 2003. IAF Su-30MKIs, IL-78 tankers and C-17 airlifters flew alongside French Rafales—India's own fleet under the 2016 36-Rafale deal. The exercise deepens the Horizon 2047 Strategic Partnership and Scorpène-submarine-era defence cooperation.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Exercise Garuda and which edition was held in 2025?
Exercise Garuda is a biennial bilateral air combat exercise between India and France, first conducted in 2003. Exercise Garuda 2025 was the 8th edition (Garuda-VIII), held November 16–27 at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base in southern France.
Which aircraft did the Indian Air Force deploy for Exercise Garuda 2025?
The Indian Air Force deployed Su-30MKI multirole fighters, IL-78 mid-air refuelling tankers, and C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlift aircraft for Exercise Garuda 2025. The inclusion of tanker and airlift assets reflects the exercise's focus on long-range power projection capability.
What is the strategic significance of Exercise Garuda for India-France defence relations?
Exercise Garuda is a flagship exercise under the India-France strategic partnership, demonstrating deep defence interoperability between both air forces. France is a key defence partner of India — the Rafale jets flown by France in this exercise are the same platform India procured under the 2016 36-aircraft deal.
Which IAF air bases in Rajasthan are operationally significant and what aircraft do they host?
IAF's Suratgarh Air Base (14 Wing) and Nal Air Base (near Bikaner) in Rajasthan are operationally significant. Suratgarh hosts Su-30MKI squadrons, while Nal has historically been a forward operating base. Both bases are critical for air defence and power projection in western India.
What does 'air combat interoperability' mean and why is it a key objective of bilateral exercises like Garuda?
Air combat interoperability refers to the ability of two different air forces to operate seamlessly together in joint missions, including coordinated tactics, communication protocols, and joint logistics. For exercises like Garuda, this is critical because India and France may need to cooperate in multinational operations under UN or other frameworks.
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