IAF Statement: An IAF contingent of 230 Air Warriors was flagged off from Air Force Station Bareilly by Air Marshal S Varthaman, Senior Air Staff Officer, Central Air Command at a formal ceremony today. The IAF contingent would be taking part in Exercise Garuda scheduled from 14 Jun to 25 Jun 2010, at Istres Air Base, France.
The IAF assets taking part in exercise include 06 Sukhoi – 30 MKIs Air Dominance fighter aircraft , 03 Ilushin – 78 Flight Refueller Aircraft & 01 Ilushin – 76 Heavy Lift Transport Aircraft. The SU-30 MKIs would be taking part in an exercise in France for the first time. Earlier SU-30 KAs had participated. Also a team of Garud Special Forces would be taking part in Exercise Garuda for the first time.
Addressing the contingent members at the flagging off ceremony Air Mshl Varthaman said “Indeed it is a proud & privileged honour for him to bid the team good flying & happy landings. We have prepared well for last 6 to 8 months and I am sure you will excel with your professionalism. So fly safe, fly well, make friends, win hearts & touch the sky with glory.”
At the Exercise Garuda the French Air Force would be participating with their Mirage 2000s & Rafale Aircraft. It should also be noted that the Republic of Singapore Air Force would also be participating in Ex-Garuda with their F-16 Block 52 Aircraft. Gp Capt J Mishra is the Team Leader under whose supervision the IAF contingent would perform in France. Gp Capt NN Sinha of IAF would be the Exercise Director, who would be planning, coordinating & executing different aspects of the flying & ground maneuvers at Ex Garuda.
Aroor, come on, it's Rafale and not Rafael, which is an israeli company.
Interesting exercise …. I wish the IAF a safe journey to France …..
the EX- Garuda exercise with the Singapore airforce is good beco's
the Blk52 F16 fighter jets that will perform are similar to the ones that the USA is gifting to Pakistan airforce … so these exercises are useful to IAF to check the F16 Blk 52 capabilities against IAF ….
great..
i love iaf
i love my country
Nabham Sprushan Diptam
R A F A L E !
not Rafael 🙂
3 Flight Refueller Aircraft & just 6 fighter aircraft……….cant understand
I think considerable spares (including spare engines?) would be carried – lots of maintenance personnel too. This probably explains why so many IL76s are needed.
Is it because of the flight suits that some of the pilots look.. er.. portly?
in these pics one cn almost see the names of the pilots .isnt tht their identity should be confidential
Good post.