Jet Blast Area - GARUDA VIII

For two weeks in November 2025, the skies over southwestern France hosted one of the most advanced bilateral fighter exercises in Europe: Exercise GARUDA VIII. Based at BA118 Mont-de-Marsan, this eighth edition of the long-running Franco-Indian air combat series brought together French Rafale fighters and Indian Air Force Su-30MKI Flankers for a demanding mixed training, targeting tactical development and interoperability.

First launched in 2003, Exercise GARUDA has grown into one of the longest-standing bilateral combat air drills between Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Alternating between France and India, its early editions — at Istres, Gwalior and Mont-de-Marsan — were built around classic dogfight training, pitting French Mirage 2000s against Indian MiGs, Jaguars and early-model Su-30s in pure dissimilar air combat.

As both air forces modernized, so did GARUDA. The 2010s saw the exercise expand toward composite air operations, tanker integration and increasingly complex tactical scenarios staged from Istres and Jodhpur. With the arrival of the Rafale into both inventories, the partnership entered a new phase, enabling deeper aircraft-to-aircraft interoperability and true large-force employment. By the time GARUDA VIII opened over Mont-de-Marsan in November 2025, the exercise had evolved far beyond individual engagements. This base is often host to major international exercises, such as VOLFA occuring every year, or NATO Tiger Meet, which was held in Mont-de-Marsan in 2019. The choice was obvious for this kind of major bilateral exercises.

Week 1 - Eyes On, Gun Up

The opening phase of GARUDA VIII was dedicated to Within Visual Range (WVR) combat — classic dogfighting and Basic Fighter Maneuver (BFM) work designed to sharpen individual flying skills and build tactical awareness against a dissimilar adversary. One-versus-one setups dominated the schedule, allowing each pilot to explore the handling qualities and energy profiles of the opposing platform. Across the week, the exercise logged an impressive 16 dedicated 1v1 BFM missions, a taxing cycle requiring continuous analysis, quick tactical adaptation, and relentless cockpit focus.

Week 2 - Big Picture Air Combat

The second week saw a shift toward Beyond Visual Range (BVR) engagements and large-force tactical operations. Individual duels gave way to integrated mission packages, culminating in full-scale fighter sweeps pitting six aircraft against six adversaries. These missions demanded precise coordination between formation elements, sensor management discipline, datalink integration, and tightly controlled timelines — all while simulating expeditionary air combat conditions.

Another mission set targeted slow-moving aerial threats, including helicopter intercept scenarios with the help of an H225M Caracal — missions directly representative of defensive counter-air and homeland protection tasking.

Indian Air Force crews from XV Squadron supervising Su-30MKI preparation sequence

EC 3/30 "Lorraine" Dassault Rafale B returing from a Garuda 2025 mission

GARUDA, an exercise like none other

From the Indian Air Force perspective, GARUDA VIII was as much about power projection logistics as air combat tactics. Indeed, deploying a functional task force across half the globe required coordination of fighters, tankers and transports through multiple international airspaces. This tested every layer of the IAF command structure. Diplomatic clearances, tanker rendezvous planning, maintenance sustainment and operational readiness all had to converge flawlessly for the exercise to even begin. For New Delhi, GARUDA remains one of the most demanding overseas air combat deployments routinely conducted with a foreign partner.

During the two-week training, days at Mont-de-Marsan followed a high rythm:

- 07:00 – Mass briefing for all forces: mission design, threat laydown, safety concerns, weather and airspace coordination.

- Morning wave – Initial fighter and support sorties.

- Afternoon wave – Main tactical mission packages.

- Evening - Extended debriefings lasting until 19:00–20:00.

Aerial refueling formed a critical enabler during GARUDA VIII. French Rafales and Indian Flankers regularly plugged into the A330 MRTT “Phénix” and the A400M Atlas, demonstrating the increasing flexibility of French air-to-air refueling assets. The Atlas, in particular, showcased its capability to act as an operational tanker in support of fighter combat sorties. However, only French aircraft refueled from the A400M during this exercise: the IAF’s Su-30MKI is not yet qualified for A400M tanker operations and this was identified as an objective for future GARUDA editions: closing such interoperability gaps remains a key long-term goal of the series.

XV Sqn "Flying Lances" pilots in front of one of their Su-30MKI

Garuda 2025 formation flypast over BA118 Mont-de-Marsan

EC 2/30 "Normandie-Niemen" Dassault Rafale C - BA118 Mont-de-Marsan

Indian Air Force 15 Sqn "Flying Lances" Sukhoi Su-30MKI - BA118 Mont-de-Marsan

Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace EC 3/30 "Lorraine" Dassault Rafale B - BA118 Mont-de-Marsan

GARUDA, more than a training

Combat flying remains the visible core of GARUDA, but the exercise’s long-term value lies deeper. During the DV Day media briefings, discussions with Major General Julien Sabéné, Deputy Commander of France’s Air Defense and Air Operations Command (CDAOA), as well as with the Exercise Director and the Indian Detachment Commander, highlighted the true focus areas:

- Tactical interoperability – harmonizing air combat doctrine and execution.

- Operational integration – building combined planning and execution cells.

- Best-practice exchange – in maintenance procedures, safety management, logistics, and administration.

- Confidence building – creating trust between aircrews and support teams.

Beyond its operational value, GARUDA VIII also carried strong political weight. The Distinguished Visitors Day (DV Day) illustrated that dimension perfectly with the presence of Mr Sanjeev Singla, India’s Ambassador to France, who received a detailed operational briefing alongside aircrews from EC 3/30 'Lorraine', and participating Indian pilots. Standing on the flight line, direct exchanges between diplomats and airmen highlighted how GARUDA extends well beyond training: it serves as a visible symbol of the strategic partnership binding Paris and New Delhi. In another gesture of mutual trust, Major General Julien Sabéné, took to the air aboard an Indian Su-30MKI, experiencing first-hand the capabilities of the Flanker while reinforcing the spirit of openness between both air forces.

Mr Sanjeev Singla, India’s Ambassador to France, attended a GARUDA 2025 briefing

Major General Julien Sabéné got the privilege to fly in a Su-30MKI during the last day of GARUDA 2025

Mr Sanjeev Singla with French and Indian Air Force crews on BA118 flightline

GARUDA 2025 was the occasion to form mutual understanding and sharing good practice between France and India

Six Sukhoi Su-30MKI were based in BA118 Mont-de-Marsan during GARUDA VIII

GARUDA VIII demonstrated the steady progression of the Franco-Indian air combat partnership. What began two decades ago as basic dissimilar air combat training has evolved into full-scale complex composite air operations with integrated tanking and multinational logistics backing every sortie. Yet the purpose remains unchanged: identify limitations, test assumptions, and close operational gaps — step by step. Future goals such as expanding tanker compatibility underscore a simple truth: interoperability is never finished; it is built progressively, exercise by exercise.

Over Mont-de-Marsan in November 2025, with Rafales and Flankers operating side by side under challenging timelines and escalating tactical complexity, the GARUDA motto remained as clear as ever:

Train hard. Learn fast. Build trust.

Jet Blast Area would like to thank the French Air & Space Force and the SIRPA Air, especially Capitaine TMIMI and Lieutenant WÜTHRICH, for their availability and for taking into account our photographic requests during GARUDA 2025 Media Day. Thank you to BA118 Mont-de-Marsan and the Escadron de Chasse 3/30 "Lorraine" for their hospitality.