More tension for Pakistan as India, France, and UAE gear for air drills…, Islamabad fears of…

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will deploy its Sukhoi-30MKI and Jaguar fighter jets for this air drill, along with IL-78 air-tankers and AEW&C (airborne early-warning and control) aircraft.

India will conduct a major air combat exercise with France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the Arabian Sea on Wednesday, aimed at strengthening trilateral defence cooperation and enhancing military synergy in the Indian Ocean region and the wider Indo-Pacific.

Sukhoi-30MKI and Jaguar fighter jets to participate

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will deploy its Sukhoi-30MKI and Jaguar fighter jets for this air drill. These will be accompanied by IL-78 air-tankers and AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) aircraft. All aircraft will fly from Jamnagar and Naliya airbases in Gujarat.

Exercise will be held at some distance from Pakistan

France and the UAE will be participating with Rafale and Mirage fighter jets from Al-Dhafra Air Base, along with other support aircraft. India has issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) for the area designated for the exercise on December 10 and 11—about 200 nautical miles from Karachi, Pakistan. The three countries previously conducted a similar air combat exercise, called “Desert Knight,” in December 2024.

India has been regularly conducting such exercises to enhance military cooperation with countries in the region, especially the Gulf countries. These exercises also involve partners like France, the US, and Australia. According to an official, “bilateral, trilateral, and multilateral exercises help hone combat skills, tactics, and procedures in real-world conditions.”

India, France and UAE hold joint drill

Interestingly, the navies of India, France, and the UAE also conducted their first trilateral maritime exercise in June 2023, focusing on enhancing capabilities to address conventional and non-conventional threats. Under the trilateral framework launched by the foreign ministers in 2022, the three countries are working together on an ambitious roadmap in several areas, including defense, technology, energy, and the environment.