A bilateral Air Exercise will be conducted between the Indian Air Force and the French Air and Space Force (Arme de l’Air et de l’Espace) from January 20. The exercise is named Desert Knight-21.
Key Points
- Desert Knight-21 will be held from January 20 to 24, 2021 at Air Force Station Jodhpur.
- From the French side, Airbus A-330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), Rafale, A-400M Tactical Transport aircraft, and around 175 personnel will participate in the exercise.
- From the Indian side, Su-30 MKI, IL-78 Flight Refuelling Aircraft, Mirage 2000, AEW&C aircraft, AWACS, and newly inducted Rafale will be part of Desert Knight-21.
- This exercise is an important milestone between Indian and French Air forces.
- Desert Knight-21 is a unique exercise in itself as it will include Rafale aircraft from both sides.
Indo-French Air Exercises
Both the forces have conducted 5 editions of “Garuda” Air exercises till now. The latest exercise was held in the year 2019 at Mont-de-Marsan Air Force Base in France. Both the forces have been also conducting ‘hop-exercises’ for strengthening their cooperation. In 2018, the French Air and Space Force deployment while ferrying to Australia for Ex Pitchblack was hosted by IAF at Air Force Stations Gwalior and Agra for exercise with MRTT aircraft and fighters.
At present, the French detachment for Ex Desert Knight-21 is deployed in Asia as part of their ‘Skyros Deployment’ and will ferry in forces to Jodhpur Air Force Station.
