Indian Air Force Conducts Exercise Desert Knight With France, UAE Over Arabian Sea
- January 25, 2024
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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Indian Air Force Conducts Exercise Desert Knight With France, UAE Over Arabian Sea
Subject: IR
Section: Msc
Context:
- On 23 Jan 24, the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted Exercise Desert Knight along with the French Air and Space Force (FASF) and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force.
More on news:
- India, UAE, and France conducted the Desert Knight exercise over the Arabian Sea.
- French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to be in India as the Chief Guest for India’s 75th Republic Day celebrations from January 25-26.
About various contingents:
- The participation of the French included the deployment of Rafale fighter aircraft and a Multi-Role Tanker Transport, while the UAE Air Force contributed the F-16.
- These aircraft operated from the Al Dhafra air base in the UAE.
- The IAF contingent comprised Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, Jaguar, AWACS, C-130-J, and Air to Air Refueler aircraft.
Desert Knight Exercise:
- The main focus of the Desert Knight exercise was on enhancing synergy and interoperability among the three air forces.
- It was a large force engagement roughly equidistant from the coastlines of India and the UAE.
- This joint exercise took place amid growing global concerns regarding Houthi rebels attacking commercial vessels in the region’s vital waterways.
- The exercise was conducted within the Indian FIR (Flight Information Regions), with IAF aircraft operating from various bases in India.
- The global airspace is divided into Flight Information Regions (FIRs).
- Each FIRs is overseen by a controlling authority tasked with ensuring the provision of air traffic services for aircraft operating within its jurisdiction.
Other Defence Exercises between India and France:
- Varuna – Naval exercise
- Garuda – Air exercise
- Shakti – Army exercise.
Defense exercise between Indian and UAE:
- Desert cyclone – Military exercise
- The first edition of the India-UAE military exercise aims to enhance interoperability through exchanging knowledge and sharing best practices in military operations.
- The Exercise is scheduled to be conducted in Mahajan, Rajasthan from 2nd to 15th January 2024.