India will send four Rafale jets, two C-17 planes, and two IL-78 mid-air refuelers to France’s Mont-de-Marsan military base for an international air drill that will last about three weeks.
The Indian Air Force’s Rafale jets will be taking part in their first practice outside of India. On Friday, a group from the Indian Air Force will leave for France.
In an official release, the IAF said, “A group from the Indian Air Force will leave tomorrow for Mont-de-Marsan, France, to take part in Exercise Orion. The drill will take place from April 17 to May 5, and the IAF will be there with 165 air warriors, four Rafale jets, two C-17s, two ll-78s, and two C-17s.
In addition to the IAF and the French Air and Space Force (FASF), air forces from Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK, Spain, and the US will also take part in the drill.
“Participation in this exercise would add to the India Air Force’s employment philosophy by taking the best ideas from other Air Forces,” said the statement.
As tensions between India and China along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh have risen, the IAF did a large exercise in the Northeastern area at the beginning of February to test its combat readiness. Eastern Air Command, which is based in Shillong, was in charge of the drill.
After Indian and Chinese troops fought at Yangtse on December 9 in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh’s Line of Actual Control (LAC), tensions between the two countries have grown.
According to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who made the statement in Parliament on December 13 after Chinese troops tried to “unilaterally” change the status quo in the Yangtse area, the Indian Army’s firm and determined reaction forced the Chinese troops to withdraw.
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