The Spanish Air Force hosted Exercise Ocean Sky 2025 at Gando Air Base in the Canary Islands, featuring participation from NATO members including the US, Germany, Greece, and Portugal.
Key Highlights:
- India’s First Participation: Marking a significant milestone, India joined the exercise for the first time as a non-NATO member, deploying two Su-30MKI fighter jets from the Indian Air Force’s No. 31 Squadron.
- Air Combat Engagements: The IAF Su-30MKIs went up against F-15E Strike Eagles, Eurofighter Typhoons, F-16s, and F/A-18s in complex air combat missions. Despite being numerically outmatched, Indian pilots demonstrated superior tactical control, endurance, and precision.
- Performance Highlights: The Indian contingent showcased exceptional formation leadership, situational awareness, and air combat manoeuvring, often dictating engagement timelines and emerging decisive in multiple simulated encounters.
- Strategic Significance: India’s participation underscores its growing global air power credentials and interoperability with advanced Western air forces, strengthening strategic and defence cooperation with NATO countries.
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