Indian Air Force (IAF) is participating in Exercise Ocean Sky 2025, a multinational air combat exercise hosted by the Spanish Air Force at Gando Air Base, Spain, from October 20 to 31, 2025. This exercise aims to strengthen interoperability, enhance air combat proficiency, and deepen defence cooperation with partner nations.
About Exercise ‘Ocean Sky 2025’
- Host: Spanish Air Force
- Location: Gando Air Base, Canary Islands
- Duration: October 20–31, 2025
- Directed by: Air Combat Command (MACOM), Spain
- Support Base: Lanzarote Air Base
The Canary Islands offer ideal training conditions with favourable weather and low air traffic density, creating a large operational airspace for complex and realistic combat simulations.
Participation and Aircraft Involved
The exercise brings together over 50 advanced aircraft from participating nations, forming a large-scale multinational air force.
Participating platforms include:
- F-18M, Eurofighter, F-16 C/D B50, F-16 Fighting Falcon M, F-15E, Su-30MKI (India)
- Tanker aircraft: MRTT, KC-767, KC-30M, A-332, and A400M
These assets together enable joint training missions and realistic air combat scenarios under multinational coordination.
Aims and Objectives
The main objective of Exercise Ocean Sky 2025 is to:
- Train air superiority missions in the Defensive Counter-Air (DCA) and Offensive Counter-Air (OCA) domains.
- Simulate large-scale air-to-air combat operations involving combined forces.
- Enhance interoperability, tactical leadership, and multinational coordination among allied air forces.
This is crucial to ensure collective air security and combat readiness across the European and Indo-Pacific regions.
Strategic Context
The exercise comes shortly after the IAF’s recent operational boost with the induction of Airbus C-295 transport aircraft, further demonstrating India’s expanding defence capabilities and global military engagements.
Airbus C-295 Aircraft
- Manufacturer: Airbus Defence and Space (Spain)
- Type: Tactical transport and multi-role aircraft
- Key Roles:
- Troop and cargo transport
- Maritime patrol and surveillance
- Reconnaissance and intelligence
- Armed support and medical evacuation
- VIP transport and firefighting
- Global Presence: 300+ aircraft in operation worldwide
- Distinctive Features:
- Exceptional versatility and reliability
- Proven efficiency for both military and humanitarian operations
The C-295 is considered the world’s most versatile tactical airlifter, supporting a wide range of mission profiles with superior adaptability.
India–Spain Defence Cooperation
- India and Spain’s defence partnership has strengthened rapidly in recent years.
- The USD 2.5 billion deal for 56 Airbus C-295 aircraft marks a milestone in bilateral defence ties.
- 16 aircraft have been delivered from Spain.
- 40 aircraft will be manufactured in India by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. (TASL) under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
- This collaboration represents India’s first defence aircraft manufacturing project in the private sector- a major stride in self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat).
Significance
- Enhances IAF’s air combat capabilities and interoperability with NATO and allied forces.
- Demonstrates India’s growing role in multinational defence cooperation.
- Promotes technological collaboration and mutual learning in advanced aerial warfare.
- Reinforces India’s strategic partnerships in Europe and supports the nation’s vision of global defence diplomacy.