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Desert Knight-21 : Indo-French Joint Exercise

Indo-French Joint Exercise Desert Knight-21:

  • Indian Air Force (IAF) and French Air and Space Force will conduct a bilateral Air exercise, Ex Desert Knight-21 at Air Force Station Jodhpur from 20 to 24th Jan 2021.
  • The exercise is unique as it includes fielding of Rafale aircraft by both sides and is indicative of the growing interaction between the two premiers Air Forces.
  • Presently, the French detachment for Ex Desert Knight-21 is deployed in Asia as part of their ‘SKYROS Deployment’.
  • Rafale fighter jets of India and France are carrying out wargames codenamed Exercise SKYROS.
  • Beginning September 2020, the IAF has inducted and operationalised eight Rafale fighter jets of the 36 jets contracted from France in a 7.87-billion euro deal in 2016.
  • Defence Exercises between India and France:
    • Varuna – Naval exercise
    • Garuda – Air exercise
    • Shakti – Army exercise
  • Gagan Shakti is conducted by the Indian Air Force to showcase its air dominance over the entire extended area of the Indian Ocean Region.
    • It includes all terrain operations – desert, high altitude, maritime scenarios and special operations – in real time with specific focus on key areas like aerial combat, air to surface combat, paratrooper assault and medical evacuation.
  • Garuda Shakti is the joint military exercise between India and Indonesia.
  • Mitra Shakti is the joint military exercise between India and Sri Lanka.