Exercise Garuda 2025 In Pics: Su-30MKI, Rafale In The Skies As India, France Launch Bilateral Air Combat Drills
Su-30MKI, Rafale aircraft soared into the skies, commencing coordinated missions as part of Garuda air exercise. Image courtesy: X.com/@IAF_MCC
Focusing on air-to-air combat, air defence, and joint strike operations, India and France’s bilateral air exercise Garuda 2025 kicked off on Sunday (November 16, 2025) at Mont-de-Marsan air base. Marking yet another stride in their expanding strategic and defence partnership, the two-week-long drill will running from November 16 to 27.
Indian Air Force Su-30MKI and French Air and Space Force Rafale aircraft soared into the skies, commencing coordinated missions as part of the bilateral air exercise. Exercise Garuda 2025 is designed to enhance military interoperability, refine joint combat tactics, and strengthen operational synergy between the Indian Air Force and the French Air and Space Force (FASF).
“The engagement reinforces strong interoperability and deep defence cooperation between the two Air Forces,” the IAF said on X, adding that Garuda 2025 air drills will further enhance interoperability, foster exchange of best practices, and strengthen defence cooperation between the two Air Forces.
Garuda 2025: Which Indian assets are participating?
For the eighth edition of the exercise, the IAF has deployed a potent combat package including 6 Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets, which will form the sharp end of India’s participation, supported by an IL-78 mid-air refueller and a C-17 Globemaster-III strategic airlift aircraft. These platforms will undertake long-range deployment, aerial refuelling, and high-tempo air operations alongside French assets.
The Sukhoi-30MKIs will train with frontline French multirole fighters, including the Rafale, in a series of complex simulated air combat missions. The core focus areas include air-to-air combat, air defence missions, coordinated strike operations.
Exercise Garuda 2025 aims to mirror realistic operational scenarios, allowing pilots to test the limits of their platforms, refine tactics, and adapt to dynamic multi-threat environments.
Why is Garuda key to India-France strategic cooperation?
According to defence officials, the Garuda air exercise is not just a tactical training event but a key milestone in shaping long-term cooperation. It offers a high-value platform for professional exchange between aircrew, sharing of operational doctrines, comparison of best practices in air combat and mission planning, among other things.
Moreover, the bilateral exercise deepens trust between the two air forces and enhances their ability to operate jointly in a coalition or crisis-response environment.
Participation in this exercise underscores the lAF’s commitment to engage constructively with friendly foreign Air Forces through multi-lateral exercises, promoting mutual understanding and cooperation in the field of air operations.
