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Paris [France]April 26 (ANI): In a first, both female and male Indian Air Force fighters take part in the ongoing multinational wargame ‘Orion’ in Mont-de-Marsan, France.
Code-named “Orion,” the multinational wargame is hosted by France and involves many of its NATO and other key allies.
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“Busy minds, busy skies! A detailed pre-flight briefing is as important as the flight itself. #IAF Air Warriors are busy planning their routines during the ongoing #ExOrion 23,” the Indian Air Force said on Twitter on Wednesday.
France and India kicked off the Orion military exercise on April 17 at the Mont-de-Marsan air base of the French Air and Space Force (FASF).
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French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain tweeted earlier: “France warmly welcomes the @IAF_MCC contingent to the #Orion2023 exercise starting today! French and Indian #Rafale jets will soon be flying together in French skies.”
The exercise will be conducted from April 17 to May 5, 2023, with the Indian Air Force contingent comprising four Rafales, two C-17s, two ll-78 aircraft and 165 air fighters. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defense, this is the first overseas exercise of the Rafale fighter jets of the Indian Air Force.
“In addition to IAF and FASF, air forces from Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Spain and the United States will also participate in this multilateral exercise. Participation in this exercise will further enrich the air force’s employment philosophy. The Indian Air Force, by absorbing the talents of other air forces best practice,” the statement read.
Earlier, defense officials told ANI that Indian Rafale fighter jets may take part in a multinational wargame code-named Orion, which is hosted by France and involves many NATO and other key allies.
“The Indian Air Force Rafale fighter jets are likely to fly to France to participate in the Orion exercise at the French air base. The wargame is scheduled to take place from the third week of April to May 5,” a defense official told ANI.
Orion is reportedly the largest multinational exercise ever undertaken by the French Defense Forces, involving the French Army, Navy and Air Force as well as its allies the United States and Britain.
According to reports, more than 7,000 NATO soldiers took part in the exercise involving ground forces from its NATO allies.
Most recently, the India Response Exercise, which began on April 10 with the participation of the Indian Air Force and the United States Air Force (USAF), culminated on April 25 in Kalaikunda, West Bengal.
The Rafale is the newest jet in service with the Indian Air Force and is considered the most powerful in the entire Asian region.
Thirty-six Rafale fighter jets have been fully commissioned and they have played a major role in improving the country’s operational readiness along the Pakistan-China border. (Arnie)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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