India’s Landmark Participation
India’s Historic Entry into Spain’s Ocean Sky 2025: The Indian Air Force (IAF) achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first non-NATO nation to take part in Exercise Ocean Sky 2025, held from October 20 to 31, 2025, at Gando Air Base, Spain. The exercise, led by the Spanish Air Force, focuses on advanced air combat training and multinational interoperability. India’s inclusion highlights its growing role in global defence collaboration and its emergence as a key aerospace power.
Static GK fact: Gando Air Base is located in the Canary Islands, a strategic hub for European air defence operations.
Strengthening Global Defence Relations
Exercise Ocean Sky 2025 primarily involves NATO air forces, making India’s invitation a reflection of its deepening strategic engagement with European partners. The IAF’s presence represents India’s readiness to work alongside advanced air forces and its commitment to global defence diplomacy. These collaborations enhance mutual trust, joint mission planning, and real-time combat coordination capabilities.
Static GK Tip: NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was founded in 1949 with 12 original members, now expanded to 32 nations.
Strategic Benefits for the Indian Air Force
Participation in multinational air drills like Ocean Sky provides Indian pilots exposure to diverse combat scenarios. Such exercises improve operational readiness, mission flexibility, and tactical awareness. The IAF gains valuable experience in air defence integration, aerial refuelling, and beyond-visual-range engagements, key for future coalition missions.
India’s consistent involvement in international military drills underscores its vision of maintaining a strategically autonomous yet globally integrated defence posture.
Airbus C-295 Boosts India’s Air Power
The Ocean Sky exercise coincides with the induction of the Airbus C-295 aircraft into IAF service, marking a major milestone in India’s modernization efforts. The final aircraft of the 16 imported units was delivered on August 3, 2025, two months ahead of schedule at Airbus’s Seville facility.
Static GK fact: The C-295 project is valued at USD 2.5 billion, involving a total of 56 aircraft, with 40 to be built in India by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd.
This induction enhances India’s airlift capability, enabling rapid troop and equipment deployment in challenging terrains—vital for both peacetime and combat operations.
India–Spain Defence Partnership Deepens
India and Spain have strengthened defence ties through continuous engagements, including the 5th Joint Working Group on Defence Cooperation held in New Delhi in 2025. The partnership goes beyond procurement to include technology transfer, joint production, and strategic training exchanges.
The collaboration symbolizes India’s growing recognition as an emerging aerospace power, blending Make in India ambitions with global defence partnerships.
Static GK Tip: The first C-295 aircraft was handed over to India on September 13, 2023, attended by Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari in Seville, Spain.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
India’s Historic Entry into Spain’s Ocean Sky 2025:
| Topic | Detail |
| Exercise name | Ocean Sky 2025 |
| Host nation | Spain |
| Venue | Gando Air Base, Canary Islands |
| Duration | October 20–31, 2025 |
| Participating Indian force | Indian Air Force (IAF) |
| Distinction | India is the first non-NATO participant |
| Aircraft inducted | Airbus C-295 (16 imported units) |
| C-295 project value | USD 2.5 billion |
| Make in India partner | Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. |
| Key bilateral event | 5th Joint Working Group on Defence Cooperation (2025) |
