Indian Air Force and Royal Malaysian Air Force Conduct Bilateral Exercise Udara Shakti 2026

The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) kicked off the bilateral air exercise Udara Shakti 2026 on August 10 at Subang Air Base in Malaysia. The five-day exercise, running until August 14, was inaugurated by RMAF Exercise Director Colonel Shamsul Shahreen bin Isa and IAF Exercise Director Group Captain Parijat Jha, with Indian Defence Adviser Colonel Praveen Sukumaran attending the opening ceremony.

What Is Exercise Udara Shakti 2026?

Udara Shakti is a recurring bilateral air exercise between the IAF and RMAF, focused on joint training and professional exchange between the two air forces. The core idea is simple, train together, learn from each other, and improve coordination. This year's edition involves 83 personnel from both sides, taking part in joint field training and professional discussions at Subang Airbase.

Key Focus Areas of Udara Shakti 2026

1. The exercise covers several important aspects of military cooperation, including joint field training activities, professional interaction between personnel, and operational knowledge sharing. 
2. A major component is the Subject Matter Expert Exchange, where specialists from both air forces discuss professional and operational topics, share experiences from their training environments, and exchange lessons that go beyond a single training event. 
3. These interactions also help improve interoperability and build stronger coordination between the two forces over time.

Aircraft and Squadron Participation in Udara Shakti 2026

1. The IAF has deployed four Rafale fighter jets from No. 101 Squadron, along with two C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft from No. 81 Squadron.
2. On the Malaysian side, the RMAF has brought in two Su-30MKM fighters from No. 12 Squadron, two F/A-18D fighters from No. 18 Squadron, and one A400M transport aircraft from No. 8 Squadron.

Udara Shakti 2022 Edition

The 2022 edition included a Field Training Exercise and a Subject Matter Expert Exchange, aimed at strengthening professional ties and interoperability between the two air forces. The 2024 edition was held in Kuantan, Malaysia, where the IAF operated Su-30MKI aircraft and the RMAF flew Su-30MKM fighters.

India-Malaysia Defence Cooperation

Udara Shakti is part of a broader defence relationship between India and Malaysia, which also includes Exercise Harimau Shakti for their armies and Exercise Samudra Laksamana for their navies. Beyond these military exercises, the two countries have been strengthening cooperation across defence, security, maritime interests, and technology in recent years.