On Wednesday, Indian Air Force Vice Chief Air Marshal AP Singh announced that the air exercise ‘Tarang Shakti’ will be the largest international air exercise ever conducted in India. The exercise will see participation from 51 countries.
Participation Details
- Confirmed Participants: Ten countries have confirmed their participation with assets.
- Observers: Eighteen countries will observe the exercise.
- Phases:
- Phase One: August 6 to August 14 at Sulur, Tamil Nadu.
- Phase Two: September 1 to September 14 at Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
Phase One
- Participants: France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
- Aircraft: MiG-29K aircraft from the Indian Navy.
Phase Two
- Participants: Australia, Bangladesh, Greece, Singapore, UAE, and the USA.
- Aircraft: Various including F-18, A-18, C-130, F-16, A-10, KC-130, KC-135, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Rafale.
Objectives
- Strengthen Strategic Relations: Enhance mutual understanding of air operations and share best practices.
- Showcase Indigenous Defence Ecosystem: Display India’s indigenous defence products like Tejas, Prachand, Dhruv, and Rudra.
Defence Industrial Expo
- Focus: Highlight top Indian defence companies and innovative startups.
- Alignment with National Goals: Support India’s vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047 and advance defence cooperation.
Previous Exercises
- Air Exercise Red Flag: Indian Air Force participated from June 4 to 14 in Alaska with Rafales joining exercises with Singaporean and American aircraft.
Key Takeaways
- Interoperability and Professional Exchanges: Foster greater understanding and exchange of aerial combat strategies.
- Varied Aircraft: Inclusion of both homegrown models and advanced fighters.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs):
- What is the primary aim of the Tarang Shakti 2024 exercise?
- A) Increase military spending
- B) Strengthen strategic relations and share best practices
- C) Reduce the number of aircraft in use
- D) Focus solely on domestic defence
- Where will Phase One of the Tarang Shakti 2024 exercise be held?
- A) New Delhi
- B) Jodhpur
- C) Sulur
- D) Bangalore
- Which countries are participating with assets in Phase Two of the exercise?
- A) France, Germany, Spain
- B) Australia, Bangladesh, Greece, Singapore, UAE, USA
- C) Russia, China, Japan
- D) Brazil, Canada, Italy
- What types of aircraft will be showcased in the exercise?
- A) Only Indian-made aircraft
- B) Advanced fighters and homegrown models
- C) Commercial airliners
- D) Drones only
- Which aircraft from the Indian Navy will participate in Phase One?
- A) Tejas
- B) Sukhoi
- C) MiG-29K
- D) Rafale