17ENAT5 Multilateral air exercise ‘Tarang Shakti postponed until next year
New Delhi, 17 August (HS): The Indian Air Force has postponed the multilateral air exercise ‘Tarang Shakti’ with five countries to mid-2024. The air forces of France, Britain, Australia, America, and Japan were to participate in this air exercise. Air forces from around 12 countries are expected to participate in the exercise to be held next year. This will be the biggest air exercise to be held in India.
The Indian Air Force will host a mega multilateral military exercise next year, which was originally planned for October. Now this aerial exercise ‘Tarang Shakti’ is likely to take place in the middle of 2024, as the Indian Air Force has said that it is not ready to host the exercise this year. Around 12 air forces are expected to participate in the exercise.
The focus of the exercise will be on improving military cooperation and enhancing interoperability. Air forces from France, Britain, Australia, America, and Japan will participate in this biggest air exercise, ‘Tarang Shakti’ to be held in India. These six countries will participate with their air assets, such as fighter jets, military transport aircraft, and mid-air refuelling equipment, while six other countries will be invited as observers.
In fact, the Indian Air Force participated in a nearly three-week multinational air exercise at the Mont-de-Marsan military base in France in April. For this, India sent four Rafale jets, two C-17 aircraft, and two IL-78 mid-air refuellers. In April itself, the Air Forces of India and America carried out ‘Exercise Cope India’ in Kalaikunda, Panagarh, and Agra. The US also deployed B1 bomber jets and F-15 fighter jets in the exercise, among other assets.
India’s Air Force last month carried out a’strategic’ mission in the Indian Ocean region for over six hours by four of India’s Rafale fighter jets in a significant display of their long-range combat capabilities. Thus, after participating in several large foreign exercises in the last few months, the Air Force is currently not in a position to host a large air exercise this year. Also, many air forces participating in the exercise have told India that if ‘Tarang Shakti’ is held this year, they will not be able to participate in the exercise. This is the reason why this air exercise has been postponed until next year.