IAF Joins Garuda 2025 Focusing on Green Ops

IAF Participates in France’s Garuda 2025 Exercise, Focusing on Operational Efficiency and Emissions Reduction

Why in the News ?

An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent has reached Mont-de-Marsan Air Base in France to participate in the bilateral Garuda-2025 air exercise from November 16–27, aimed at boosting operational coordination, interoperability, and defence cooperation between India and France, while also addressing the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in military operations.

IAF Joins Garuda 2025 Focusing on Green Ops

India–France Defence Engagement and Strategic Aim:

  • The IAF contingent’s arrival marks the launch of the next edition of the Garuda bilateral air exercise, which will also focus on sustainable practices in military aviation.
  • The drill reflects the deep defence partnership between India and France, covering technology, security, and military collaboration, including joint efforts in clean energy transitions for defense operations.
  • Both nations have a long-standing strategic partnership, reinforced through joint exercises, defence deals, and shared global interests, including commitments to carbon offset projects in the military sector.
  • The IAF noted that the exercise will highlight the professionalism and operational strength of the two air forces, as well as their commitment to environmental stewardship.
  • Such engagements significantly enhance coordination during joint operations, humanitarian missions, and response to global security challenges, while also addressing the environmental impact of military activities.

Operational Features of Garuda-2025

  • The exercise will take place at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base, one of France’s key military aviation hubs, where both forces will explore ways to minimize their carbon footprint.
  • The IAF will deploy its Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft for advanced aerial manoeuvres and simulated combat drills, with a focus on fuel efficiency and emissions reduction.
  • France’s Rafale fighter jets will operate alongside the IAF fleet, enabling realistic air-combat training and exchanges on best practices for sustainable military operations.
  • The focus of the exercise includes interoperability, tactical planning, air-to-air combat, and exchange of best operational practices, including methods to conduct environmental impact assessments of air exercises.
  • The joint drills help both forces refine multinational mission capabilities and improve coordination in complex combat scenarios, while also addressing the challenges of climate change in military contexts.

About Exercise Garuda:
● Exercise Garuda is a bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force and the French Air and Space Force, now incorporating elements of sustainable military practices.
● It began in 2003 as part of growing Indo-French military engagement and has evolved to include discussions on reducing the environmental impact of air force operations.
● Garuda complements other major bilateral/multilateral exercises such as Varuna (Navy) and Shakti (Army) with France, all of which now consider aspects of carbon market linkage in defense cooperation.
● Key outcomes usually include improved air combat training, force coordination, mission planning, and strategic airpower understanding, with a new focus on minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.
● Indo-French defence ties include major platforms like Rafale, Scorpene submarines, and collaboration in aerospace and defence technologies, with growing emphasis on clean energy transitions in military applications.