Indo-French Skies Unite: Su-30MKI and Rafale in Historic Mixed Formation Flights Over France
For the first time in aviation history, Indian Air Force Su-30MKIs and French Air and Space Force Rafales flew sustained mixed-formation sorties together over French soil. The landmark event took place on November 23–27, 2025 at Air Base 118 Mont-de-Marsan and Istres-Le Tubé Air Base 125, during the bilateral exercise “Garuda VIII – Special Edition”.
What Actually Happened in the Skies
Four Su-30MKIs from the IAF’s No. 31 Squadron “Lions” (based at Jodhpur) deployed to France on November 18. After two days of ground coordination, the Indian “Flankers” flew 18 mixed sorties with Rafale B/C of Escadron de Chasse 1/4 “Gascogne” and 2/30 “Normandie-Niemen”.
The missions included:
– 4-vs-4 BVR engagements beyond 100 km using live data-link exchange
– Within-visual-range (WVR) dogfights with helmet-mounted displays
– Electronic warfare duels with Rafale SPECTRA vs Su-30MKI’s SAP-518 jammers
– Dissimilar air combat training (DACT) with Mirage 2000-5 escorts
Most significantly, the two types flew in integrated packages of 2 Su-30 + 2 Rafale acting as a single composite strike force, sharing radar pictures in real time via Link-16 (Rafale) and indigenous SDL (Su-30MKI) bridge developed by DGA France and DRDO.
• First ever real-time Link-16 ↔ Indian SDL data fusion between Rafale & Su-30MKI
• Live exchange of MICA-IR and R-77-1 missile simulation data
• Rafale’s SPECTRA successfully spoofed Su-30MKI’s Bars radar lock (and vice-versa)
• Mixed formation night strike package against simulated S-400 battery
• Cross-servicing: Indian Su-30 refuelled by French KC-135, French Rafale hot-pit refuelled by IAF IL-78
Strategic Context and Timing
The unprecedented level of interoperability comes exactly when India is negotiating the ₹60,000 crore Rafale-Marine deal for 26 carrier-borne fighters for INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. The exercise served as a live demonstration of how Rafale-M can seamlessly operate alongside the Su-30MKI fleet that forms 70% of IAF’s strike backbone.
French sources confirmed that the data collected will directly feed into the “Rafale-M India-specific enhancements package” — including Indian weapons (Astra Mk-2, Rudram series, Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon) and Uttam AESA radar integration roadmap.
Related reading: Astra’s Extended Reach: 250-km Variant and Future Integration Plans
Operational Takeaways for Both Air Forces
- IAF pilots were impressed by Rafale’s low-speed handling and SPECTRA’s jamming effectiveness
- French pilots praised Su-30MKI’s supermaneuverability and thrust-vectoring in close combat
- Combined blue-force tracking proved a mixed package can survive peer-level integrated air defence
Future Roadmap
France has formally invited India to the 2026 “Atlantic Trident” exercise with USAF F-35s and RAF Typhoons — the first time a non-NATO nation will participate. Discussions are also underway for a permanent Indo-French Combined Air Operations Centre at Mont-de-Marsan for year-round training.
The exercise also quietly validated the upcoming Rafale-M selection: French officials stated that the level of integration achieved with Su-30MKI “exceeds what we have even with our own Mirage 2000 fleet”.
Conclusion
When an Indian Su-30MKI and a French Rafale flew wingtip-to-wingtip over the Atlantic coast on November 26, it wasn’t just a photo-op — it was the visual representation of India’s most successful defence partnership in action. From co-development of weapons to real-time battlefield data fusion, Garuda VIII has shown that Indian and French fighters can fight as one.
As one French pilot remarked after a sortie, “Today the Flanker and the Rafale didn’t just fly together — they became a single weapon system.”
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