Indian Air Force Engages in Multinational Exercise Ocean Sky 2025 in Spain

The Indian Air Force is currently participating in Exercise Ocean Sky 2025, a large-scale multinational air combat exercise hosted by the Spanish Air Force at Gando Air Base in the Canary Islands from October 20 to 31, 2025. This engagement marks a significant development in India-Spain defence cooperation, demonstrating the operational reach and combat proficiency of the Indian Air Force alongside NATO member nations and allied partners.​

The exercise brings together more than 50 aircraft from Spain, Germany, Greece, Portugal, India, and the United States, including F-18M, Eurofighter Typhoons, F-16s, F-15E Strike Eagles, and Indian Su-30MKI fighter jets. Supporting this multinational force are tanker aircraft including MRTT, KC-767, KC-30M, A-332, and A400M platforms. The Indian Air Force deployed Su-30MKI aircraft from its inventory to participate in this complex operational environment.​

According to the Indian Air Force, the exercise aims to foster mutual learning, enhance interoperability, sharpen air combat skills, and strengthen defence cooperation with friendly nations. The exercise focuses on training for air superiority missions in Defensive Counter-Air and Offensive Counter-Air domains, simulating combat between large combined air forces. These types of exercises enhance interoperability, tactical leadership, and international cooperation capabilities essential for collective security operations.​

Growing India-Spain Defence Ties

This exercise follows several months of intensified India-Spain defence cooperation. In August 2025, Indian Ambassador to Spain Dinesh K Patnaik, along with senior Indian Air Force officials, received the final delivery of 16 Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft at the Airbus Defence and Space assembly line in Seville. The delivery, completed two months ahead of schedule, marked an important milestone in strengthening India's defence capabilities.​

The C-295 project represents India's first private sector initiative in military aircraft production, with Tata Advanced Systems Limited partnering with Airbus Spain to establish a Final Assembly Line Plant in Vadodara, Gujarat. Under this agreement, 16 aircraft were delivered in fly-away condition from Spain, while 40 additional aircraft will be manufactured in India, with the first Made-in-India C295 expected to roll out in September 2026.​

Recent High-Level Diplomatic Engagement

The defence cooperation has been reinforced through sustained high-level diplomatic engagement between the two nations. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar made his first official visit to Spain as External Affairs Minister on January 13-14, 2025. During the visit, he met with HM King Felipe VI, President Pedro Sanchez, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, and Defence Minister Margarita Robles. The discussions covered the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation, including trade, economy, defence, security, tourism, culture, and people-to-people ties.​

Minister Jaishankar announced that Spain will soon establish a consulate in Bengaluru, while India has operationalised its Consulate General in Barcelona. He also confirmed that 2026 will be celebrated as a "Dual Year" focusing on culture, tourism, and Artificial Intelligence between the two nations.​

Institutionalising Defence Cooperation

The 5th Joint Working Group meeting between the Ministry of Defence of India and Spain took place in New Delhi on February 6, 2025. Co-chaired by Joint Secretary for International Cooperation Amitabh Prasad and Special Advisor on Defence Diplomacy Brigadier General Paulino Garcia Diego, the meeting reviewed ongoing bilateral defence cooperation activities and discussed plans for multiple joint activities, including in the maritime domain. Both sides agreed to focus on closer collaboration in defence, particularly in technology and armament production areas.​

The C295 project has encouraged more Indian and Spanish companies to collaborate with each other and explore options to work together in the aerospace domain. This partnership exemplifies the Make-in-India initiative and has become a catalyst for broader defence industrial cooperation between the two nations.