‘Tarang Shakti 2024’, First Multinational Air Exercise

India will host its first multinational air exercise, ‘Tarang Shakti 2024’, in two phases starting on the 6th of next month in Sular, Tamil Nadu. In this exercise, nearly 30 countries will participate, and out of 30, ten countries will join the exercise with their fighter aircraft. The exercise will showcase India’s defence prowess and provide a platform for participating militaries to foster interoperability.

Extended to 51 countries

Invitations have been extended to 51 countries. Ten countries will be participating with assets and 18 as observers with one more country likely to join,” Air Marshal Singh said while briefing the media.

Indian aircrafts taking part

Indian Air Force’s LCA Tejas, Mirage 2000, and Rafale to take part in the mega exercise, they added. Air Marshal A P Singh, Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS), told that this exercise will also showcase India’s defence prowess and move towards ‘Atmanirbharta’ in defence.

Foreign aircraft in the ‘Tarang Shakti’ exercise

• Rafale from France
• Typhoon from Germany
• F-18 from Australia
• F-16 from Greece
• C-130J from Bangladesh

among others, will participate in the ‘Tarang Shakti’ exercise.

Aims of Exercise ‘Tarang Shakti’

• Exercise ‘Tarang Shakti’ aims to strengthen strategic relationship with our friends from international community.
• We also aim to strengthen our cultural and diplomatic relations with these countries.
• We look forward to the exercise to foster deeper cooperation and understanding among the participating forces
• Our endeavour will be to demonstrate our energy and dynamism during this exercise, learn from each other, learn operating procedures, tactics, strategies.

Why in two phase?

Given the diverse participation, and also to cater to requirements of certain friendly foreign countries, “we have decided to do it in two parts”, Air Marshal Singh added.

Phase-1 in Tamil Nadu

The first part will be conducted in Sulur area in south India, and this phase will see four countries –Germany, France, Spain and the UK  with their assets.

Phase-2 in Jodhpur

Phase two will be held at Jodhpur and that will see participation from Australia, Bangladesh, Greece, Singapore, the UAE and the US with their assets. Along with that there will be 18 countries which will be sending observers and not their air assets.

India’s indigenous products

From India, LCA Tejas, Mirage 2000, Rafale, LCH Prachand, Dhruv and Rudra will be taking part in the flying part showcasing India’s indigenous products. Indian Navy will be participating in the phase one with an aircraft, Air Marshal Singh said.

Which country is not taking part?

Russia was sent an invitation for the exercise, “Russia was there, but, I think, because of their ongoing conflict they have not been able to take part.