India-France air exercises : Garuda-2 news & pics

Touching new heights, the Indian Air Force successfully participated in a fortnight-long joint exercise with its French counterpart at the picturesque Istres Base in southern France during which the men in blue had a first-hand experience of state-of-the-art AWACS radar system.The exercise with the French airforce named "Garuda-II", participated in by six Sukhoi-30 multi-role combat fighter aircraft and an IL-78 mid-air refueller, was held from June 15 to June 30 to enhance the strike capabilities of the elite force under varied conditions.

Despite language hiccups and a busy French skyline, the Indian pilots performed "extremely well," a visibly buoyant Group Captain Shreesh Mohan told reporters here. "They coped well with the tough environment," he added.

The exercise has many records to its credit as it was the first time that Sukhoi-30s were deployed outside India and the fighters were controlled by Airbone Warning and Control System (AWACS). The fighter jets also performed a historic feet of flying for more than six hours at a stretch during the drill.

The Indian Sukhois and the French Mirages were engaged in visual and close combat, mixed fighter force operations and offensive and defensive air maneuvres during the exercise, during which Indian fighters flew for more 200 hours.

full article.....

hhehe.. notice no statements regarding "which side won" etc. etc..

Originally posted by Daedalus3
hhehe.. notice no statements regarding "which side won" etc. etc..

that has alredy been covered in my previous posts :
......The IAF was surely pleased to “receive” the knowledge albeit losing the BVR engagements initially. However, in Within Visual Range (WVR) combat the IAF overwhelmed the French convincingly throughout sharing an “awesome experience” in the words of French pilots. ......

there is more on page 1

Click here (this is a trial to view a single post instead of the full page)...tell me if it works

quotes from Janes from a forum:

French pilots used the exercise to assess the 'threat-benchmark' of the Su-30. One Mirage pilot said: "In close combat the Mirage [appears] more 'nervous' than the Sukhoi. A decision must be achieved in the first minute or the sheer power and the agility of the Su-30 will overwhelm you."

The latest French frontline fighter, Rafale, was reportedly sought for 'Garuda II' but "it has not yet been operationalised in the French Air Force and was thus not available", a source said.

The fighters also refuelled from the opposite nation's tankers. This demanded complex preparations because, despite both sides using the hose-and-drogue system, French and Russian jet engines do not use the same JP-fuel.

A French officer added: "The Indians have put themselves visibly into the 'club' of the world-leading air arms with that remarkable deployment; the Chinese for example, still cannot do that." (well said mate )

Demanding conditions during the exercise were reported by the Indian side because of "unfamiliar dense airspace with constant fresh restrictions - and the French language-melody on the radio".

link

From an online forum, translated by a French member:

Quote:
The exercice make the front page of Air&Cosmos mag' this week. Long article.

In few words:

- India showed its brilliant ability to project its forces far away
- first the exercice was to learn to work together with comon missions, cross refuelling, and patrols with M2000C (RDI)
- then, it became more and more complex with fight visual range 1 vs 2 then 2 vs 2 with simulated fires of Magic2 and AA-11 Archer.
- After the 24th of june, the arrival of M2000-5 and more and more complex missions.
First, comon patrols then BVR simulated fights with Mica's and R-77. The problem was the evaluations, it was solved with SLPRM mission recording system for french side, and Indian side GPS recording plus Otaris software aboard a E-3F AWACS which recorded every radar signatures. I worked well, just that they had to stay concentrated for long debriefing at the end of the day, sometime 2 or 3 hours...
- some comon 'sky forbiden' mission were made in comon with the participation of some M2000N and Tucano to simulate the intruders.
- In 8 days, 160 fight sorties, 2 to 4 each days: 80 for the 2000, 74 for the SU30, 4 for the E3-F and 4 for C-135FR as well as Il-78
- unanimous comment: "Indians showed a outstanding proffessionalism as well as a amazing adaptation ability with already good knowledges of OTAN procedures".
"It was simply a pleasure to work with them. On the ground or on the air, the are precise and serious as well as friendly and great comarad".
- French pilots learnt to know the SU30K better. "A powerfull and very manoeuvrable weapon system, which performs as well as the 2000 RDI but inferior to the 2000-5 RDY in its K version.


In close combat, the Mirage is more 'nervous' than the Sukhoi, "the edge must be tacken in the first minute or then, the power and the manoeuvrability of the Su-30 make the difference".

www.press-vision.com...

[edit on 12-7-2005 by Stealth Spy]

aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh another G R E A T link :

franknoort.nl...



GO CHECK OUT THE GREAT EXCLUSIVE PICS HERE and GREAT COVERAGE

This pic made my day : 62.250.130.24...


Some people have great cameras or what..

[edit on 12-7-2005 by Stealth Spy]

hmmm. now off to the middleast to pair off with those Israeli jets..
THe season for indian aviation is heating up!!
Can't wait to get info on the Israel trip!!