India France UAE Defence Collaboration: India, France, and the UAE launched the “Desert Knight” air combat exercise over the Arabian Sea on Wednesday. This trilateral exercise is aimed at enhancing defense cooperation and military interoperability, especially amid evolving geopolitical dynamics.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed fighter jets, including Sukhoi-30MKIs and Jaguars, supported by IL-78 mid-air refuelers and AEW&C (airborne early-warning and control) aircraft from Jamnagar and other bases. French Rafale and UAE’s F-16 jets operated from the Al Dhafra airbase.
According to Timesofindia, it took place 350-400 km southwest of Karachi, the exercise featured “large force engagement” with intensive combat maneuvers over a three-day period. It marks the second such trilateral initiative this year, designed to improve synergy among the three air forces through realistic combat scenarios.
This exercise highlights India’s growing military interoperability in the Persian Gulf region, working alongside nations like the US, France, and Australia.
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The “Desert Knight” air combat exercise reflects a growing trend of bilateral, trilateral, and multilateral military exercises aimed at fostering strategic cooperation among like-minded nations in the Indo-Pacific. This region, increasingly critical to global security, faces challenges from China’s assertive expansionism, which has raised concerns among many nations.
In addition to air combat exercises, the navies of India, France, and the UAE conducted their first trilateral maritime partnership exercise in June last year. This drill honed combat skills to address both traditional and non-traditional threats across a wide range of naval operations.
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Launched in 2022, the trilateral framework between India, France, and the UAE goes beyond defense cooperation. It encompasses collaborations in technology, energy, and environmental initiatives, following a robust roadmap designed to strengthen ties.
India and France share a long-standing strategic partnership that spans maritime security, defense-industrial cooperation, counterterrorism, and information sharing, underscoring their commitment to maintaining stability and cooperation in the region.
