Ex-Desert Knight 21 begins Jan 20 and here is what makes it most unique air-drill ever

• IAF and French Air and Space Force (Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace) will take part in joint drill Ex-Desert Knight 21 starting Jan 20

• From french side Rafale, Airbus A-330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), A-400M Tactical Transport aircraft joining with approximately 175 personnel

• India deploying Mirage 2000, Su-30 MKI, Rafale, IL-78 Flight Refuelling Aircraft, AWACS and AEW&C aircraft in the drill

New Delhi: (Defence News) The neighbours' envy and India's pride air drill Ex-Desert Knight 21 is set to take place in India between January 20-24, 2021. Indian Air Force and French Air and Space Force (Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace) will take part in the bilateral exercise with some of the best fighter jets globally. The IAF will deploy its Rafale, Sukhoi and Mirage 2000 combat jets besides other key assets in a five-day mega air exercise with French air and space force that begins near Jodhpur on Wednesday. The Indian Air Force (IAF) said its deployment at the 'Ex-Desert Knight 21' will also include IL-78 flight refuelling aircraft as well as airborne warning and control system (AWACS).

"The French side will participate with Rafale, Airbus A-330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), A-400M Tactical Transport aircraft," it said, adding around 175 French personnel will be part of the exercise.

The IAF deployment in the exercise will include Mirage 2000, Su-30 MKI, Rafale, IL-78 flight refuelling aircraft and the AWACS.

The drill is taking place at a time the IAF has been keeping all its frontline bases across the country in a high state of operational readiness in view of the Sino-India border row in eastern Ladakh.

"The exercise is unique as it includes fielding of Rafale aircraft by both sides and is indicative of the growing interaction between the two premier air forces," the IAF said in a statement released Tuesday.

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"As the two detachments commence their air exchange from January 20 onwards, they will put into practice operational experience gained across terrains and spectrums and endeavour to exchange ideas and best practices to enhance interoperability," it said.

The French and Indian air forces have been conducting 'Garuda' exercises for the last several years as part of efforts to boost operational cooperation. So far, six editions of 'Garuda' have taken place with the last one being held in 2019 at Mont-de-Marsan in France.

"As measures to further the existing cooperation, the two forces have been gainfully utilising available opportunities to conduct ''hop-exercises''… Presently, the French detachment for Ex-Desert Knight-21 is deployed in Asia as part of their ''Skyros Deployment'' and will ferry in forces to air force station Jodhpur," the IAF said.

In a boost to its strike capability, the IAF received the first batch of five Rafale jets in July last year, nearly four years after the government inked an agreement with France to procure 36 of the aircraft at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore. The second batch of three Rafale fighter jets joined the IAF in November.

Rafale fleet has been carrying out sorties in eastern Ladakh.

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