Garuda-V is witnessing the maiden participation of France's Rafale in an air in Indian airspace. France has deployed four Rafale omnirole jets from the 3/30 Fighter Squadron “Lorraine” to the IAF's Jodhpur Air Force Station, along with one C-135 FR tanker aircraft from 2/91 Air Refueling Group “Bretagne”. French Air Chief General Denis Mercier, will attend the exercise, as will his Indian counterpart, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha. 94 French Air Force personnel, including 9 Rafale aircrew and twenty-seven Rafale technicians are currently deployed at Jodhpur. The Indian Air Force has fielded of Su-30 MKIs, upgraded MiG-27 and MiG-21 Bisons, supported by Il-78 refuelling tanker and a PHALCON AWACS. According to the French Govt, "The objectives of the exercise are to exchange know-how of French and Indian pilots and to enhance interoperability and cooperation between French and Indian Air Forces, including in the field of air refueling. The aircrews will be conducting daily combat training missions against or alongside each other, in a range of tactical scenarios offering increasingly complex and realistic training situations."