Fighter jets of the Indian and French air forces on Sunday began a weeklong joint exercise over Gwalior.

"Operation Garuda, as the exercise is code-named, will begin with four French Mirage 2000 variants, 1AC-135 mid-air refueller and TC8 transport aircraft to carry out war manoeuvres... in conjunction with the IAF's Gwalior-based Mirage 2000 and other fighter variants," air force spokesman Squadron Leader Rajesh Dhingra said.

"This will be for the first time that IAF pilots will get hands-down experience with a mid-air refueller ahead of IAF's acquisition of IL-78 mid-air refuellers from Uzbekistan later this month," he said.