The Indian and French Air Forces are participating in joint aerial drills as part of a multinational air exercise at the French airbase of Mont-de-Marsan. This exercise, called 'Exercise Orion', includes four Rafale jets, two C-17 aircraft, and two IL-78 mid-air refuellers deployed by India. It marks the first overseas exercise for the Indian Air Force's Rafale jets.
The Indian team participating in the exercise includes Shivangi Singh, the first woman Rafale pilot in the Indian Air Force, who has been making significant strides in the field. Earlier this year, Squadron Leader Avani Chaturvedi became the first woman fighter pilot from India to participate in an aerial wargame abroad. She was a Su-30MKI pilot and took part in a 16-day mega air combat exercise with the Japan Air Self Defence Force at the Japanese airbase of Hyakuri.
Besides the Indian Air Force and the French Air and Space Force, air forces from several other countries, including Germany, Greece, Italy, and Spain, are participating in Exercise Orion, which began on April 17 and will last till May 5. The primary objective of the exercise is to provide participating countries with the opportunity to enhance their interoperability, strengthen their relationships, and share best practices in air combat operations.
Exercise Orion is also an opportunity for the French Air and Space Force to showcase the capabilities of its Rafale jets, which have proven to be a game-changer in air combat operations. In addition, the exercise will allow participating air forces to exchange tactics and techniques to better counter the evolving threats in the region.
The exercise is expected to last for three weeks, during which time participating air forces will conduct a range of air combat operations, including air-to-air combat, air-to-ground attacks, and air refueling. Overall, Exercise Orion provides a valuable opportunity for participating air forces to enhance their capabilities, interoperability, and relationships, which are essential to maintaining peace and security in the region.
The Rafale is a multi-role fighter aircraft developed by the French company Dassault Aviation. In September 2016, India signed an agreement to purchase 36 Rafale jets from France to replace its aging fleet of Russian-made MiG-21 fighters. The first batch of five Rafale jets was delivered to India in July 2020, and the remaining 31 jets were delivered by April 2022.
The Rafale jets are equipped with advanced weapons systems, including beyond-visual-range missiles, air-to-ground missiles, and precision-guided bombs. They are also equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and avionics, which provide the pilot with real-time situational awareness and enable the aircraft to operate in complex air defense environments.
The Indian Air Force's Rafale jets have been used in various exercises and operations, including Exercise Desert Knight 2021 with the US Air Force, Exercise Garuda 2019 with the French Air and Space Force, and Operation Swift Retort, a military confrontation between India and Pakistan in February 2019.