Mirage 2000 fighters of the French and the Indian air forces are fighting it out, displaying advanced maneuvers in the skies over northern plains, as India carries out its first bilateral combat exercise with a foreign air force in 40 years.
It was in 1963 that the Indian Air Force fighters last took part in a joint exercise with a foreign air force. It had then joined hands with the US Air Force for Operation Shiksha.
Exercise Garuda, a major stride forward in Indo-French military cooperation, is underway at Gwalior. Indian Jaguars are also taking part in the exercise.
French Air Force Chief General D'Armes Aerienne Richard Wolsztynski said the exercise was important for both sides to build their capacities and exchange experience. He hoped the two sides would have more such exercises in the future.
Speaking to reporters at IAF's Gwalior base, the French Air Force chief said the two sides have a long history of cooperation. India inducted a Mirage 2000 squadron in 1985, a year after the French Air Force.
General Wolsztynski said the attack of 9/11 in the US showed that the air defence capabilities of a country must be ready to give cover to an entire spectrum of objects.
"Are we in peacetime or in low-level conflict?" the FAF chief wondered, and said he would believe it's the latter.
General Wolsztynski said the demands of modern day warfare, especially after 9/11, are changing fast and the air forces need to build on each other's experience.
He said over the next 10 to 15 years the French want to reduce the types of fighter jets with its air force from four to two and that his force was looking forward to a truly multi-role aircraft.
Air Marshal A Bhavnani, senior air staff officer, Central Air Command, and one of IAF's best hands on Mirage 2000, said the IAF was very impressed with its two squadrons of Mirage 2000s.
Bhavnani said the exercise gave Indian fighter pilots exposure to the advanced avionics of the Mirage 2000s and an opportunity to interact and learn from French pilots who have operated in multinational scenarios.
French Ambassador to India Dominique Girard said the exercise was part of the long-standing strategic relations between India and France. He said France has proved to be a credible partner for India in supply of major defence equipment and critical spareparts.
The deal to buy Scorpene submarines for the Indian Navy from France is in advanced stages, the ambassador said.
