Air Exercise Garuda-VII

Air Exercise Garuda-VII

#GS-02 International Relations

For Prelims:

About Air Exercise Garuda-VII:

  • Garuda VII is the seventh edition of the bilateral air exercise between India and France that is taking place after a gap of two years.
  • The first edition of the exercise was held in 2003.
  • Ex Garuda-VII is also the first occasion for the light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas and the light combat helicopter (LCH) Prachand to participate in any international exercise.
  • The exercise, which is due to culminate on November 12, includes four Rafale fighters and one A-330 multi-role tanker transport aircraft from the French side.
  • Apart from the LCA and LCH, the IAF contingent consists of Su-30 MK-I, Rafale and Jaguar fighter aircraft, as well as Mi-17 helicopters.

India France Exercises:

Exercise SHAKTI:

  • It is a biennial military exercise conducted between India and France.
  • It was first conducted in the year 2011.
  • The Exercise Shakti aimed to train in counter-terrorism operations and had a semi-terrain set-up for the same.

Exercise Varuna:

  • It is a bilateral naval exercise between India and France.
  • It was first started in 1983, though given its present name in 2001.
  • The joint-exercises are held either in the Indian Ocean or Mediterranean Sea with the aim of improving Indo-French coordination on capabilities like cross-deck operations, replenishment-at-sea, minesweeping, anti-submarine warfare and information sharing.

Exercise La Pérouse:

  • It is a multilateral maritime exercise led by the French Navy.
  • The Indian Navy participated in this exercise for the first time in 2021.

Source “Chiefs of Indian, French Air Forces join ongoing Garuda-VII air exercise