The airbase at Gwalior in Northern India played host to an Indo-French Exercise named 'GARUDA' from 6th February until 17th February. The exercise took place at one of the most important and certainly one of the busiest bases of the Indian Air Force. Gwalior is home to the two Mirage 2000 squadrons of the IAF (1 and 7 squadrons) as well as housing three guided missile squadrons and the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE), operating the Mig-21, 23U and 27. Gwalior is also home to a ground control intercept squadron and has an electronics warfare range under its control. France and India have enjoyed a military relationship for many years and with both airforces operating the Mirage 2000 it was a good opportunity to learn from each other's experiences. The Mirage 2000 was introduced with the Armee de L'Air in 1984 and this was closely followed by India, who inducted it in 1985. Although visiting transport aircraft have operated jointly in India before, this was the first time that foreign combat aircraft had exercised with IAF Aircraft on Indian Soil. Another exercise is due to take place later this year when USAF F-15's are due to visit the Su30 squadrons at Poona. The deployment commenced when a French DC-8 arrived on February 6th, bringing in ground crew and equipment. This was followed on the 7th by 3 Mirage 2000C aircraft and 1 Mirage 2000B from Escadron de Chasse 1/12 'Cambresis', who flew in from Cambrai via Djibouti in Africa. They were accompanied enroute by a C135FR from ERV93, which provided them with air to air refueling. Total distance from Cambrai to Gwalior is about 10,000 kms, bringing home to the IAF the importance of force multipliers like tanker aircraft.