Indian Air Force fighters to Europe

The Bharatiya Vayu Sena (IAF, Indian Air Force) Rafale and Su-30MKI-3 fighter aircraft will participate in two different exercises in Europe.

On Saturday 15 April 2023, four Dassault Rafale DH fighters from 17 Squadron Golden Arrows arrived at Base Aérienne (BA) 118 Mont-de-Marsan to take part in the Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace (AAE, French Air and Space Force) exercise Orion 2023/Phase 4 which will be conducted from 17 April to 5 May. The fighters made a night stop in Egypt and were accompanied by two C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft and two Ilyushin Il-78MKI Midas refueling aircraft. The tankers did not continue to France.

This would be the first overseas exercise for the Indian Rafales. Serials of the aircraft involved are: RB001, RB002, RB005 and RB007

Besides the Indian and Frence Air Force, air forces from Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Spain and US will also join this multilateral exercise. Participation in this exercise would further enrich the employment philosophy of the IAF, by adopting best practices from other air forces.

Orion 2023 integrates around twenty training exercises (AsterX, DEFNET, POLARIS etc.) that are normally conducted separately by the armed forces. Phase 4 is the final phase, it will involve 12,000 troops on the ground, including 1,700 troops from 14 allied nations. About 2,600 tactical vehicles, including 400 combat vehicles will be used, along with 60 aircraft – 50 of which are fighter jets – and 30 ships, including France’s aircraft carrier and two amphibious helicopter carriers.

The second exercise in which IAF aircraft participate is the Elliniki Polemiki Aeroporia (HAF, Hellenic Air Force) exercise Iniochos 2023, which wil be held at Andravida air base from 24 April to 5 May 2023.

The Indian Air Force will participate with four Sukhoi Su-30MKI-3 Flanker fighter aircraft from 222 Squadron Tigersharks. Besides the Indian and Hellenic Air Force, this exercise will attract some more exotic air forces like the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) with F-16 Fighting Falcons and the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) with F-15C/D Eagles or F-15SA Saudi Advanced Eagles.

Serials of the Indian AIr Force Flankers involved are: SB114, SB222, SB234 and SB325

For more information on the participants of both exercises visit the Scramble SIS Summary page.

Photos via Indian Air Force and Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace