Garuda VI
With plans to replace the ageing Il-78 tanker,
Indian crews also welcomed the opportunity
during the first week of the exercise to see
the Armée de l’Air’s new Airbus A330 Phénix
during a visit to BA 125 Istres-Le Tubé.Preparations
The build-up to Garuda VI started around
six months prior with an initial planning
session at Mont-de-Marsan, in which
representatives from the fighter and tanker
communities schemed the exercise.
This early meeting decided the duration
of Garuda VI, quantity of aircraft
required, number of missions, and
the way the scenarios developed.
With this ‘homework’ complete, the
Indian personnel returned to discuss
the scope of the manoeuvres with IAF
staff and to refine their programme.
The final elements of the manoeuvres were
confirmed during a mid-term planning meeting.
Back in India, a work-up phase was
launched to get the pilots used to flying
in large packages of dissimilar aircraft incompact airspace – especially important
for the younger aviators. Air-to-air refuelling
was also integrated in these preparations.
For the refuellers themselves, a very
important objective was organising the ‘trail’
to France and back. The fighter pilots were
all required to be fully operational with a
rating of two-ship lead, and comprised a
mix of experienced and younger fliers.
The first week of Garuda VI began with
familiarisation flights to get used to the
French flying environment and local air traffic
regulations. Later in the first week, some basic
fighter manoeuvres (BFM) exercises were
planned, including 1-v-1, 1-v-2 and 2-v-2.
During the second and final week the focus
was on flying large-force engagements
with multiple aircraft assigned to Blue
Air opposing enemy Red Air assets.
Two missions were scheduled per day,
with Indian and French contingents
alternating in the role of mission leader.
After the aircraft had launched, AFM was
given access to the on-base Centre de
Détection et de Contrôle (CDC) 04.930,because the French Air Force operates
according to NATO standards, so in terms
of understanding each other it was not
difficult. But going through various phases,
starting from basic fighting manoeuvres up
to large-force engagements, and at each
stage integrating with them, the learning
value was significant. And we have lots
to take away, to continue to progress and
move ahead in the years to come.”The future
New Delhi has ordered 36 Rafales and
so the exercise gave the Indian pilots
a chance to see their new acquisition
up close. This autumn, after around six
months of training, testing and evaluation
in France by Indian pilots, the first Rafales
will be delivered for formal acceptance.
Pilots from both air forces were able
to fly in aircraft from the other country.
The Indian Vice Chief of the Air Staff
(VCAS) Air Marshal R K S Bhadauria flew
in a Rafale with Colonel Antoine Courty,
commanding officer of EC 2/30.Exercise Year Country Location
Garuda I 2003 India Gwalior AFS
Garuda II 2005 France Istres-le-Tubé
Garuda III 2007 India Kalaikunda AFS
Garuda IV 2010 France Istres-le-Tubé*
Garuda V 2014 India Jodhpur AFS
Garuda VI 2019 France Mont-de-Marsan
* Trinational exercise with Republic of Singapore Air Force F-16s temporarily based at Orange.
12 392 // September 2019 #378 http://www.airforcesmonthly.com90-93 FlankersinFrance AFM Sep2019.indd 92 7/30/2019 3:44:56 PM