Joint Military Exercises: News & Discussion

[Kartik]

Ex Tarang Shakti Phase 2 video from the IAF.

Absolutely unique formation shown - includes Tejas Mk1, Tejas trainer, Mirage-2000I, Jaguar, Rafale, F-16s from the USAF and HAF, Su-30MKI, A-10 and RAAF Growler.

[Manish_P]

Screen grab from the above video

Pehchan kaun...

[Kartik]

Some truly great pics from Tarang Shakti Phase 2

[Rakesh]

Air Force trains in India - Tarang Shakti and Pacific Skies 2024

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/Platypus_10/status/1832241374328172939 ---> IAF Su-30mki During Exercise Tarang Shakti 24!

[Rakesh]

VIDEO: https://x.com/livefist/status/1832030459611799896 ---> INS Tabar exercising its A-190E gun in the Mediterranean during Exercise Varuna this week.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/singhshwetabh71/status/18 ... 0698889249 ---> Growler in Jodhpur with a very visible AN/ALQ-99 EW jammer pod (the one with the fan) and wingtip AN/ALQ-218.

[Rakesh]

Exercise Malabar Set To Commence

[Rakesh]

Italian F-35s with Indian MiG-29Ks!

https://x.com/livefist/status/1843312466039857391 ---> First Indian and Italian Navy carrier strike groups (INS Vikramaditya and ITS Cavour) exercise in the Arabian Sea. Indian MiG-29Ks seen flying with Italian F-35B & Harriers.

https://x.com/VishnuNDTV/status/1843304460665438424 ---> Indian Navy MiG-29Ks in joint operations with Italian Navy F-35s and Harriers ... Stunning pics - Joint carrier operations off our western seaboard ... The sea phase was led by the two carriers INS Vikramaditya and ITS Cavour along with INS Visakhapatnam and ITS Alpino.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/ItalianNavy/status/1843192779796803689 ---> Italian Carrier Strike Group trains in the Indo-Pacific with the Indian Navy's aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and its embarked aircraft along with the destroyer INS Visakhapatnam and Indian Air Force aircraft.

[Rakesh]

Game changer....

VIDEO: https://x.com/NewsIADN/status/1859563629202289152 ---> Indian Armed Forces have signed an agreement with Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to allow KC-30A tankers to refuel Indian aircraft (P-8I).

[Manish_P]

^ Rather this is playing games as per their rules and restrictions

We need our own tankers as of yesterday.

[Rakesh]

French carrier strike group, Indian warships to carry out 42nd Varuna bilateral exercise on west coast
https://theprint.in/defence/french-carr ... t/2428991/
03 Jan 2025

The French CSG is led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle that can operate up to 40 aircraft. Exercise Varuna, featuring the two navies, began in 2001.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/livefist/status/1887836363455901820 ---> L-R: INS Imphal, INS Mormugao, INS Visakhapatnam, INS Chennai and INS Kochi.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/livefist/status/1887837457997279444 ---> India's home-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant with frigates, corvettes, MiG-29Ks, a P-8I and Do-228s at TROPEX 25.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/livefist/status/1887836767417749940 ---> Kalvari Class and Shishumar Class (foreground) boats at TROPEX25.

[SSridhar]

Third edition of India-Egypt joint special forces exercise CYCLONE-III underway in Rajasthan - ToI

The third edition of the India-Egypt joint special forces exercise CYCLONE-III is underway at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan. The military drill which will take place for 14 days will continue till February 23 as per the Indian Army.

The participating troops from both sides are undergoing rigorous combat conditioning and tactical training aimed at strengthening joint operational capabilities.

The Indian and Egyptian special forces continue to train hard, demonstrating exceptional discipline, teamwork and adaptability, the Indian Army noted.

Their unwavering commitment to operational excellence highlights their readiness to undertake joint missions in challenging environments.

Exercise CYCLONE is an annual event conducted alternatively in India and Egypt. The last edition of the same exercise was conducted in Egypt in January 2024, the ministry of defence noted.

The Indian contingent comprising 25 personnel is being represented by troops from two special forces battalions. Egypt contingent also comprising 25 personnel is being represented by special forces group and task force of Egyptian special forces.

As per the ministry of defence, the aim of exercise CYCLONE is to promote military-to-military relationship between the two countries through the enhancement of interoperability, jointness and mutual exchange of special operations tactics. The exercise will focus on a high degree of physical fitness, joint planning and joint tactical drills.

Notably, the drills to be rehearsed during the exercise will include advanced special forces skills and various other tactics, techniques and procedures as per the current operational paradigm.

The exercise will culminate in a 48-hour long validation exercise to rehearse and validate the tactical drills for counter-terrorism operations in desert/ semi-desert terrain. The exercise will also include a display of indigenous military equipment and an overview of the defence manufacturing industry for the Egyptian side, the ministry of defence observed.

Exercise CYCLONE will enable the two sides to share their best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures for conducting tactical operations and also facilitate the development of bonhomie and camaraderie between soldiers of both sides.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/zone5aviation/status/1897975238337454429 ---> What a shot from the Indian Navy's Theatre Level Operational Exercise (TROPEX).

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/zone5aviation/status/1897975238337454429 ---> What a shot from the Indian Navy's Theatre Level Operational Exercise (TROPEX).

https://x.com/DefenceDecode/status/1897967085671596235 ---> Indian Navy’s Stealth guided-missile destroyers during the Theatre Level Operational Exercise (TROPEX 2025).

[Rakesh]

In Photos: India, France Conclude ‘Varuna’ Naval Exercise
https://stratnewsglobal.com/world-news/ ... -exercise/
24 March 2025

[SSridhar]

India, Russia kick-start 6-day naval exercise

Chennai: India and Russia on Friday kick-started a six-day naval exercise off Chennai in line with their close defence and strategic ties. The exercise 'Indra' is witnessing participation of Russian naval ships -- Pechanga, Rezkiy and Aldar Tsydenzhapov. The Indian Navy has deployed its warships Rana, Kuthar and maritime patrol aircraft P8l.

The exercise is being conducted in two phases. The harbour phase is from March 28 to 30 at Chennai while the 'sea phase' is from March 31 to April 2 in the Bay of Bengal.

Since its inception in 2003, exercise Indra epitomises the long-term strategic relationship between the two navies, the Indian Navy said.

"The exercise has evolved into a symbol of maritime cooperation, showcasing the two nations' commitment to enhancing naval interoperability and operational synergy," it said.

The sea phase of the exercise will witness advanced naval drills, including tactical manoeuvres, live weapon firings, anti-air operations, underway replenishment, helicopter cross-deck landings and exchange of sea-riders, the Indian Navy said in a readout.

"These exercises and interactions are intended at enhancing maritime cooperation, strengthening bridges of friendship, exchanging best operational practices and to bolster diplomatic ties between the two nations," it said.

[SSridhar]

India, US to kick off tri-service exercise in Bay of Bengal today - ToI

India and the US on Tuesday will kick off their major tri-service exercise called 'Tiger Triumph' in the Bay of Bengal, with a focus on enhancing military interoperability for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) and crisis situations.

The two week-long exercise, with a harbour phase at Visakhapatnam and then massive maritime and amphibious operations off Kakinada, will also see the two sides formulate standard operating procedures to establish a combined coordination centre to enable rapid and smooth coordination between the task-forces during exercises and contingencies, officials said.

India will be represented by warships INS Jalashwa, INS Gharial, INS Mumbai and INS Shakti, with their integral helicopters and landing crafts, and P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft.

The Army will deploy troops from the 91 Infantry Brigade and 12 Mechanised Infantry battalion, while the IAF will have C-130J 'Super Hercules' aircraft and Mi-17 helicopters, along with a rapid action medical team (RAMT).

The US has sent amphibious warship USS Comstock and guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson, along with marines, for this fourth edition of Tiger Triumph.

"During the exercise, a joint command and control centre will be established by the Indian Army and the US Marines at the Kakinada naval enclave. IAF, RAMT and the US Navy medical team would also establish a joint medical camp for providing aid," an official said.

India and the US have been steadily cranking up the scope, strength, complexity and frequency of their military exercises as part of their "strategic partnership and convergence". They range from the 'Vajra Prahar' and 'Yudh Abhyas' exercises between their armies to the quadrilateral Malabar naval wargames with Australia and Japan.

Simultaneously, just a few hundred nautical miles to the south, India & Russia are engaged in Ex. Indra, off the Chennai coast !

[SSridhar]

This is not a joint military exercise but it has a deep significance of its own.

Indian Navy ensures no nation suppresses another in IOR with military & economic might : Rajnath - ToI

The Indian Navy ensures that no nation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) suppresses another with its `overwhelming’ military and economic might, defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday, in the backdrop of China continuing strategic forays into the region.

India’s aim is to develop the IOR as “symbol of brotherhood and shared interests”, with its Navy ensuring the security of both Indian and foreign ships in the shared commitment for free navigation, rules-based order, peace and stability in the region, Singh said, flagging off the maiden `Indian Ocean ship (IOS) Sagar’ from the Karwar naval base in coastal Karnataka.

Under it, a combined crew of Indian sailors and 44 personnel from nine foreign countries (Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Tanzania) are manning offshore patrol vessel INS Sunayna during her deployment to the south-west IOR from April 5 to May 8.

The warship will undertake port calls at Dar-es-Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis, Port Victoria and Male as well as undertake joint surveillance of EEZs of Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius and Seychelles.

Addressing representatives from the participating nations, Singh termed the launch of IOS Sagar as a reflection of India’s commitment to peace, prosperity, and collective security in the maritime domain.

Pointing to India’s growing presence in IOR, he said, “It’s not just related to our security and national interests but also enhances the security of friendly nations. Our Navy ensures that, in the IOR, no nation suppresses another on the basis of overwhelming economy and military power. We ensure that the nations’ interests are protected without compromising their sovereignty.”

“Along with other stakeholders, the Indian Navy is ensuring peace and prosperity in the region. Equipped with state-of-the-art ships, weapons and equipment as well as well-trained and motivated sailors, we resolve to move ahead with other friendly nations towards developing IOR as a symbol of brotherhood and shared interest,” he added.

Referring to PM Modi’s recent `Mahasagar’ (mutual and holistic advancement for security and growth across regions) initiative, Singh said it will expand and strengthen the `Sagar’ (security and growth for all in the region) vision in a more advanced and collaborative manner. “Now that India has transitioned from Sagar to Mahasagar, there could be no better time to launch the voyage of IOS Sagar,” he said.

Accompanied by chief of defence staff General Anil Chauhan, Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, the minister also inaugurated modern operational, repair and logistic facilities constructed under Project Seabird worth over Rs 2,000 crore at the Karwar naval base.

[Rakesh]

VIDEO: https://x.com/officialTatya_1/status/19 ... 5909970133 ---<> "Grace in speed, beauty in noise — low-flying MKIs are Beasts wrapped in elegance." #iniochos2025 Low pass at Vouraikos Canyon.

https://x.com/officialTatya_1/status/19 ... 3901075601 ---> Flanker low pass at Vouraikos Canyon. Credit: Ron Kellenaers & F110 photography. Formation was F-18 > Su-30MKI > F-18.

https://x.com/connect_rishav/status/1910356236828098630 ---> Yes, the IndoFlanker did fly low and slow through the Greek Mach Loop! Stunning capture by Ron Kellanaers (@ rkellanaers_photography/instagram) as an Indian Air Force Su-30MKI passes through the Vouraikos canyon during its deployement at Ex INIOCHOS 2025.

[Roop]

Formation was F-18 > Su-30MKI > F-18.

Hmm... which country did that F-18 belong to? Greece doesn't operate the F-18 and the US was not in these exercises. I think Spain is the only European country that operates this aircraft, and Spain was not in this exercise. So... who??

[Rakesh]

Formation was F-18 > Su-30MKI > F-18.

Hmm... which country did that F-18 belong to? Greece doesn't operate the F-18 and the US was not in these exercises. I think Spain is the only European country that operates this aircraft, and Spain was not in this exercise. So... who??

It is Spain ---> https://www.haf.gr/en/structure/htaf/ai ... chos-2025/

[SSridhar]

India-EU naval exercise in Indian Ocean on June 1-3 - ToI

India and the European Union (EU) will conduct a joint naval exercise in the Indian Ocean from June 1-3. The exercise will focus on advanced counter-piracy operations, interoperability, tactical manoeuvres, and enhanced communication protocols, reflecting the growing maritime security cooperation between the two sides.

This is in line with their shared commitment to a free, open, inclusive and rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific region, the EU has said. "It is underpinned by the respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, democracy, rule of law, freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce, and peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, notably the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),'' it said in a statement."

The exercise will involve Indian Navy ships and two frigates of the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Operation ATLANTA," it added.