Center “India’s Rafale Jets to Shine at Multinational Air Exercise in France”

India will deploy four Rafale jets, two C-17 aircraft, and two IL-78 mid-air refuelers for a nearly three-week multinational air exercise at France’s Mont-de-Marsan military base. This will mark the first overseas exercise for the Indian Air Force’s Rafale jets. The Indian Air Force contingent is set to depart for France on Friday. “An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent will be departing tomorrow for France to participate in Exercise Orion at Mont-de-Marsan,” the IAF announced. The exercise is scheduled to take place from April 17 to May 5, with the IAF contingent consisting of four Rafale jets, two C-17 aircraft, two IL-78 aircraft, and 165 air warriors. In addition to the IAF and the French Air and Space Force (FASF), air forces from Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Spain, and the United States will also participate in the exercise. “Participation in this exercise will enhance the operational strategies of the Indian Air Force by learning from the best practices of other Air Forces,” the IAF stated.