Exercise Garuda 2025 sees the Indian Air Force back in France with their Sukhoi SU-30MKI jets at Mont-de-Marsan.

The eighth edition of Exercise Garuda arrived back in France at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base 118 on the 12th of November, and with it came 6 Sukhoi SU-30MKI-3s from the Indian Air Force, 10 Rafales, 6 Mirage 2000s and numerous support aircraft. This is a bilateral exercise organised alternately between France and India.

This 2025 Exercise was focused on air defence, ground attack, tactical cooperation, and missions with in-flight refuelling. In-flight refuelling is being conducted by A330 MRTTs from Istres Air Base.  

 

The Indian Air Force's participation list.

Sukhoi SU-30MKI-3

SB057

SB133

SB155

SB199

SB213

SB330

Support aircraft to MdM.

C17 Globemaster III

CB8002

CB8003

CB8008

In-flight refuelling from India via Ciaro.

Ilouchine IL 76 

KJ3449

KJ3450

Both landed at Istres Air Base.

EXERCISE GARUDA 2025.

360 30-SI Rafale B EC01.030 AdlA from Mont-de-Marsan.

SB199 SU-30MKI running in for a tactical break for landing.

SB199 SU-30MKI-3 approaching runway 27 at MdeM.

 SU-30MKI-3 gear down for landing.

SB213 SU-30MKI-3 Indian Air Force.

E68 8-MO Alpha Jet E from EE03.008.

359 30-FZ Rafale B EC01.030 'Côte d'Argent' AdlA.

SB133 Sukhoi SU-30MKI-3 Indian Air Force.

Rafales for the break

Tactical break.

102 30-EF Rafale C EC02.030 SPA91 'Aigle à tête de mort' (Death's Head Eagle) AdlA.

32 Rafale M operating from MdeM, although from ETR03.004 St Dizier.

Sun setting on Little and Large!

646 30-MO Mirage 2000D RMV EC01.030 AldA

SB330 SU-30MKI-3.

SB330 Sukhoi SU-30MKI-3 Indian Air Force.

SB057 SU-30MKI-30.

SB057 Sukhoi SU-30MKI-3 Indian Air Force.

1381/ER TBM-940 from the DGA-EV at Cazaux.

A400 turning finals with the remnants of the early morning dense fog.

0053 F-RBAK A400 from Orleans-Bricy.

5074 61-PQ C-130H from Everux.

327 M346A RSiAF early morning practice approach. The weather has taken a turn for the worse.

327 M346A RSiAF 150 Sqn at Cazaux.

5114 61-PA C-130H from Everux.

660 30-JF Mirage 2000D RMV AdlA.

SB133 using the airbrake.

SB133 Sukhoi SU-30MKI-3 Indian Air Force landing in the grey. The weather brings my trip to an end at Mont-de-Marsan once again.

See my trip to Volfa 2025, also at Mont-de-Marsan, here:- 

https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2025/11/exercise-volfa-2025-french-air-force.html

Happy Days!

 

Exercise VOLFA 2025 French Air Force Base 118 at Mont de Marsan hosts this annual air operations.

Exercise 'Volfa' 2025 kicked off at Base Aérienne BA118 Mont-de-Marsan on the 22nd September until 10th October. Fifty aircraft and multiple crews joined the exercise. For the fighter jets, coming from numerous French bases and the Greek and Italian Air Forces, all were based at Mont-de-Marsan. The transport aircraft were assembled at Base Aérienne 123 Orléans-Bricy; they included aircraft from the Air Forces of Canada and the UK, as well as the helicopter element based at Cazaux.  

This annual French Exercise is a test of operational readiness. I visited Mont-de-Marsan, where the French, Greek, and Italian air forces were simulating up to 20 complex air raids, both day and night, across a full spectrum of air operations, including air superiority and reconnaissance missions, in a high-intensity warfare environment. Sadly, the weather was not at its best, but one has to take the opportunities as they come.

EXERCISE VOLFA 2025.

 u

The objective: to demonstrate mastery of tactical know-how, strengthen the preparation of forces and affirm air superiority.

Before the sun has risen above the mass of conifers surrounding  Base Aérienne BA118 Mont-de-Marsan, the first Rafales are getting airborne, followed by Mirage 2000-5Fs, Mirage D's, Greek air force F-16's and Italian Tornado ECR jets. 

The light is terrible, but it is worth the memories: Mirage 2000-5F 41 2-FZ from GC01.002 at Luxeuil reheats out of M de M. Three Mirage 2000-5F are deployed here for Volfa 25, the other two being 54 2-EZ and 47 2-EP.

47 2-EP Mirage 2000-5D heading for TRA43, an airspace reserved for military operations.

Mirage 2000D 637 3-XQ leads, followed by 606 3-JC, 626 3-IC and 615 3-JY, all from EC03.003 at Nancy-Ochey.

637 3-XQ Mirage 2000D on a mission to the Massif Central area of France.

Greek air force F-16CGs 518, 520, 510, and F-16DG 610. 

By the time the sun is up, some aircraft are returning.

Italian air force Tornados break for landing.

6° Stormo Italian Air Force patch.

MM7055 6-65 Tornado ECR MLU Itaf coming from GEA 6° Stormo based at Ghedi.

MM7024 6-50 Tornado ECR MLU Itaf coming from GEA 6° Stormo at Ghedi.

MM7036 6-06 Tornado ECR MLU Itaf also coming from GEA 6° Stormo.

Greek F-16CG's tactical landing.

337 Mira  'Fanasma' Hellinic Air Force.

510 F-16CG 337 Mira named 'Fanasma' (Ghost) HAF, their home base being Larissa in Greece.

518 F-16CG 337 Mira HAF.

520 F-16CG 337 Mira HAF.

610 F-16DG 337 Mira HAF.

A330 MRTT from BA125 at Istres with two local receivers.

Three Mont de Marsan Rafales break for landing.

361 30-SJ Rafale B ECE01.030 AdlA. from Mont de Marsan.

165 30-VR Rafale C  'Côte d'Argent' BR128 Le Scarabée Blanc.

351 30-FR Rafale B EC02.30

162 5-VO Rafale C EC01.005 from BA115 at Orange.They supplied five Rafales to Volfa at Mont-de-Marsan.

5-VF Rafale C EC01.005 AdlA.

329 4-ID Rafale B EC02.004 SPA167 'Cigogne de Romanet' from Saint-Dizier.

328 4-IC EC01.004 SAL 28 'Éléphant' from St Dizier.

13 Rafale M 12F French Marine from Landivisiau airbase.

9 Rafale M 12F French Marine.

32 Rafale M from ETR03.004 at St Dizier.

Mirage 2000-5Fs returning to MdM.

54 2-EZ Mirage 2000-5F  EC01.002  SPA73  'Cigogne Japonaise'.

47 2-EZ Mirage 2000-5F AdlA from Luxeuil.

Mirage 200D's tactical break for landing.

606 3-JC Mirage2000D RMV EC03.003 from Nancy-Ochey.

637 3-XQ Mirage 2000D RMV EC003.003 AdlA.

626 3-IC Mirage 2000D EC02.003 AdlA.

615 3-JY Mirage 2000D RMV EC002.003 AdlA.

107 8-UD Alpha Jet.

F-ZKBZ NH-90-TTH (FS) allocated serial 1458/EBX Armée de Terre.

Arriving at MdM from Cazaux.

5393/VC AS555AN EH01.015 'Alphilles' from BA115 at Orange.

77/XD TBM-700A ET00.041 'Verdun' from BA107 Villacoublay.

0110/F-RBAR A-400  ET04.061 'Bearn' BA115 Orleans-Bricy

742 C-130H 356 MTM 'Iraklis' (Hercules) from Elefsis.

That's it from Mont de Marsan for now; it's Exercise Garuda 2025 shortly, featuring 6x Indian Air Force Sukhoi SU-30MKI. More on that later.

Happy Days indeed!