New Delhi: Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent will be departing tomorrow for France, to participate in Exercise Orion at Mont-de-Marsan, an Air Force base of the French Air and Space Force (FASF).
Ministry of Defence The exercise will be conducted from April 17 to May 5, 2023, with the IAF Contingent comprising four Rafale, two C-17, two ll-78 aircraft and 165 air warriors. This would be the first overseas exercise for the IAF's Rafale aircraft.
Besides the IAF and the FASF, Air Forces from Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Spain and United States of America would also be flying in this multilateral exercise. Participation in this exercise would further enrich the employment philosophy of the India Air Force, by imbibing the best practices from other Air Forces.
This joint exercise will provide a platform for the countries to enhance operational capability and interoperability, while also sharing best practices.
Orion is the biggest military exercises of France till date. The exercise is taking place with the Russia-Ukraine war in the backdrop where NATO led by US is opposing the Russian moves against Ukraine.
The first leg of the Orion 2023 war games started on 23 February and lasted until 11 March. The phase in which India will take part is scheduled from the third week of April to May 5.
In this phase, the soldiers will simulate an air and land conflict with that powerful state, involving the deployment of up to 12,000 troops in northern France. It will involve land, sea, air and space components, including cyber warfare, as well as civilian operations in wartime, such as health services and transport.
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