Indian Air Force and French Air Force are currently participating in Exercise Garuda VII which ends on November 12

The Chiefs of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force (IAF), Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, and the French Air and Space Force (FASF), General Stéphane Mille, participated in a combined flight on Tuesday during the ongoing exercise Garuda VII.

The FASF Chief flew in an IAF Su-30MKI fighter, while CAS did a sortie in an IAF Rafale fighter. Both took part in the exercise, which was carried out as a part of a joint training operation that out of Air Force Station Jodhpur in the desert terrains of Rajasthan.

"Leading by example. Chiefs from both the #IAF & @Armee_de_lair took to the skies in one of the multi-aircraft missions flown during #ExerciseGaruda.

The unique flight provided the perfect overview of the Exercise to both the Commanders," the Indian Air Force's Media and Communications Centre tweeted.

Later, speaking to the media alongside the FASF Chief, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari noted that Ex Garuda offers an exceptional chance for both Air Forces to absorb best practises from one another when conducting missions.

He also emphasized the expanding interoperability between the two air forces, which has grown with each revamped version of the bilateral exercise, which has been taking place regularly since 2003.

The LCA Tejas and the freshly inducted LCH Prachand are both participating in Ex Garuda VII for the first time in an international exercise.

In addition to the LCA and LCH, the IAF contingent also includes Mi-17 helicopters, Su-30 MKI, Rafale, and Jaguar fighter aircraft. Combat-enabling assets, including AWACS, AEW&C, AWACS, and Garud Special Forces, are also part of the IAF contingent.

From the French Air Force side, four FASF Rafale fighters and one A-330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft are participating in the exercise, which is scheduled to end on November 12th.

After a two-year hiatus, the exercise will once again boost bilateral ties between the two nations and provide an opportunity for the air forces on both sides to further develop their operational capabilities, interoperability, and best practices sharing.