GS 2 – International Relation
India-France-UAE Trilateral Air Combat Exercise: India, France, and the UAE have initiated the trilateral air combat exercise “Desert Knight” over the Arabian Sea. This operation aims to enhance interoperability and strategic cooperation among the three nations’ air forces.
Exercise Desert Knight is a trilateral air combat exercise between India, France, and the UAE. It builds on the trilateral framework established in 2022, which focuses on cooperation in defence, technology, energy, and the environment.
- The exercise involves intensive combat manoeuvres approximately 350–400 km southwest of Karachi over the Arabian Sea.
- It features advanced aircraft like Sukhoi-30MKIs, Rafales, and F-16s operating in realistic combat scenarios.
- This is the second such exercise this year, aimed at improving combat skills and interoperability among the three air forces.
Significance:
- Strengthens defence ties in the Indo-Pacific and Persian Gulf regions.
- Enhances coordination among like-minded nations amidst concerns over China’s assertive influence and global geopolitical tensions.