The Indian Air Force is preparing to host a massive exercise later this year that is anticipated to include 12 air forces. The exercise will be aimed at enhancing interoperability, learning from one another's best practises, and fostering greater military cooperation among the participating nations, according to officials with knowledge of the plans.
The exercise, named Tarang Shakti, will be the biggest multinational air exercise to be conducted in the country and will involve fighter jets, military transport aircraft, mid-air refuellers and airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft, according to sources.
One of the authorities said that Tarang Shakti is in the planning stages and will probably take place in October or November. According to a second official, just six air forces would take part in the exercise, with the others watching from the sidelines. The air forces of the US, the UK, France and Australia are among those likely to take part in the exercise.
The IAF has emerged as a partner of choice for joint exercises for several air forces. This year, the IAF has participated in joint drills in France, Greece, Japan and the UK so far. To be sure, while Tarang Shakti will be the biggest multilateral exercise to be conducted in India, the IAF has taken part in several such drills on foreign soil.
The IAF’s French-origin Rafale fighter jets debuted in an overseas exercise in April. Exercise Orion was held at the Mont-de-Marsan airbase in France from April 17 to May 5, and involved the air forces of the host nation, the US, the UK, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, and Spain. Four Indian Rafales, two C-17 heavy lifters, two ll-78 refuellers and 165 air warriors took part in the exercise.