IAF conducts its largest-ever multinational exercise Tarang Shakti
Military exercise
4 min read
The Indian Air Force successfully concluded its largest-ever multinational exercise, Tarang Shakti 2024. The exercise commenced at the Indian Air Force Sulur base in Tamil Nadu on 6 August 2024 and concluded at the Jodhpur Air Force Station on 14 September 2024.
Thirty countries Air Force, including India, participated in the exercise.
It is the largest-ever exercise conducted by the Indian Air Force. In 1963, the Indian Air Force conducted Exercise Shiksha, which brought together the Indian, Australian, US, and UK air forces.
Phase of the Tarang Shakti exercise
The Tarang Shakti exercise was conducted in two phases.
Phase -I at Air Force Station Sulur, from August 6th to August 14th 2024.
Phase -2 at Air Force Station Jodhpur, from August 29th to 14th September 2024.
Participant Air Force
According to the Indian Air Force, 50 countries were invited to participate in the exercise, of which 30 countries, including India, participated in the Tarang Shakti exercise.
Ten countries' Air Forces are participating with their assets ( fighter aircraft), 18 countries are participating as observers, and one country has yet to confirm its participation.
Phase-1 -the French, Spanish, German, and United Kingdom Air Forces participated with their assets.
Phase-II Six countries, Australia, Bangladesh, Greece, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States of America participated with their assets.
Observer—Italy, Malaysia, the Philippines, Argentina, Nepal, Oman, the Republic of Korea, Tajikistan, Egypt, Vietnam, Cambodia, Chile, Ivory Coast, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Saudi Arabia participated in Phase 2 as observers.
Aim of the Tarang Shakti Exercise
India has set a target to become a developed country by 2047. As part of that vision, the Tarang Shakti exercise presented India as a credible defence force and a country with robust Indigenous defence production capability.‘
India displayed its indigenous defence equipment to the participating countries and other dignitaries.
Indian-made fighter aircraft, such as the LCA Tejas, helicopters like the LCH Prachand, air defence systems, air-to-air BVR missiles, and ground-based radars, were displayed.
Significance of the Exercise
During the Tarang Shakti exercise, the Indian Air Force had an opportunity to hone its skills against different types of fighter aircraft, such as Rafale, Typhoon, F-18, and F-16.
Conducting joint exercises with so many countries' air Forces helped improve the Indian Air Force's individual and joint operational capabilities.
The exercise focused on airborne networking, a crucial factor that defines aerial networking's capacity and guarantees connectivity and data exchange.
The exercise is expected to enhance the capabilities and promote trust, networking, and friendly relations between the participating countries and their air forces, thereby promoting global cooperation.
Chief of the Indian Air Force: Vivek Ram Choudhari.
