“Exercise Harimau Shakti-2023” begins between Indian and Malaysian armies

The joint bilateral training exercise between the Indian and Malaysian Armies "Exercise Harimau Shakti 2023" began on 23 October 2023. It is being organized till 5 November 2023.

• About 120 soldiers from both the countries are participating in this exercise.

At which place is the exercise being conducted?

• “Exercise Harimau Shakti 2023” is being conducted at Umroi Cantonment (Meghalaya), India from 23 October to 5 November 2023.

Objective of the exercise:

• Exercise Harimau Shakti 2023 aims to enhance the level of defence cooperation between the Indian Army and the Malaysian Army, which will further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.
• Also to enhance military capability to conduct multi-domain operations in sub-conventional scenario.
• During the training exercise, both sides will establish a joint command post and create an integrated monitoring grid with a joint monitoring centre.

Indian contingent represented in Exercise:

• The Indian contingent is being represented in this exercise by a battalion of the Rajput Regiment. While the Malaysian Army contingent includes soldiers of the 5th Royal Battalion of the Malaysian Army.

Exercise Harimau Shakti-2022 organized:

• The previous edition of this exercise was conducted in November 2022 at Pulai, Kluang, Malaysia.

Highlights of the practice:

• Both sides will rehearse the deployment of joint forces in jungle/semi-urban/urban environments.
• Apart from this, intelligence gathering, collation and dissemination exercises will also be rehearsed.
• Drones/UAVs and helicopters will also be used in this exercise.
• Both sides will also practice management of the injured and taking the injured soldiers to a safe place in the war zone.
• Both the teams will discuss logistics management and survival training exercises at the battalion level.
• This training exercise will mainly focus on maintaining a high level of physical fitness, conducting exercises at tactical level and sharing best practices with each other.
• The exercise will conclude with a 48-hour long validation exercise in a semi-urban area.