Garuda 5 exercise begins in Jodhpur

Garuda-5 Update

70 member French Airforce team has landed in Jodhpur for the Garuda-5, this event has got quite a bit news coverage because French airforce will be using 4 Rafale multi-role fighters against Indian Su-30MKI,MiG-27 and MiG-21.

The two air forces would be engaged in various missions ranging from close combat engagement of large forces, slow mover protection, and protecting and engaging high-value aerial assets in the exercise at the strategic airbase near Indo-Pak border.

The airchiefs of French and Indian airforce would be flying the Raflae and Sukhoi.

It will help the Indian side understand the best way to use Rafale by watching it in action in the hands of french pilots and the French team will get a first hand experience of the needs and thinking of the Indian pilots. Added to that is the exchange of ideas for maintaining and servicing such high end products between the ground crews of both the forces.

Defense minister Jaitley is scheduled for a visit.

Rafale Details

Rafale is a twin-jet combat aircraft capable of carrying out a wide range of short and long-range missions, including ground and sea attacks, reconnaissance, high-accuracy strikes and nuclear strike deterrence. The aircraft were developed for the French Air Force and Navy. France's Air Force and Navy ordered 180 (132 for the air force and 48 for the navy), 100 aircraft had been delivered by the end of 2010. The Rafale entered into service with the French Navy in 2004 and with the French Air Force in 2006. Ten aircraft are operational on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier.

Read more about Rafale