India Hosts Multinational Exercise Tarang Shakti: What Lies at Stake?

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has organized a 2-phase multilateral exercise, Tarang Shakti, with a series of foreign air force contingents. Tarang Shakti is one of the largest exercises that the Indian Air Force has conducted in the recent past. 

Ten countries including Australia, Bangladesh, France, Germany, Greece, Spain, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and Singapore are taking part in this exercise with their aircraft. Eighteen other countries are attending as observers. India had extended an invitation to 50 countries.

The first phase of this exercise was held at the Sulur airbase in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu from August 6 to August 14. The participating countries in this phase included France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom. 

The second phase will be held at Jodhpur in the desert state of Rajasthan from September 1 to 14. It will see participation from Australia, Bangladesh, Greece, Singapore, UAE, and the US with their assets. 

A wide range of aircraft is taking part in this exercise. They include F-18, A-18, C-130, F-16, A-10, KC-130, KC-135 besides the Eurofighter Typhoon. New Delhi will field the indigenous Tejas, Rafale, Mirage 2000, Jaguar, and MIG 29 aircraft.

Why Is This Exercise Important for the IAF?

First, through Tarang Shakti, Indian Air Force pilots will be able to hone their skills by collaborating with air forces of other countries. They would also be able to learn from the different kinds of warplanes these air forces use. While the IAF mostly uses Russian and French-made fighters, other participating countries use different makes of aircraft.

Second, in an era of geopolitical flux, exercises like these help India to strengthen its ties with the participant countries. The participation of nearly 30 countries in these exercises shows the geopolitical reach of India across the political spectrum.

Strengthening Geopolitical Ties

New Delhi had also extended an invite to the Russian Air Force to participate in Tarang Shakti. However, the Russians have not agreed to join in light of the war with Ukraine. It is worthwhile to note that Russia remains India's biggest supplier of military hardware, though its reliance on Russian military hardware has steadily declined over the years.

Third, India is now a member of various groupings like the Quad. It also has an "Act-East Policy," through which it aims to improve its relations with countries in East and Southeast Asia. India already holds joint exercises known as the SIMBEX with Singapore and the IND-INDOCORPAT (India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol) with Indonesia. In May 2023, India and ASEAN conducted their first-ever maritime exercise.

Fourth, the Indian Navy already conducts multilateral exercises known as the MILAN. Additionally, units from the Indian Army have taken part in multinational exercises like Russia's Vostok 2022. Now, it's the Indian Air Force's turn.

Indigenous Marketable Hardware

Fifth, Tarang Shakti will also allow the Indian Air Force to showcase and promote a wide variety of indigenously developed military hardware under the "Make-in-India" initiative. 

What is most significant about Tarang Shakti is that it is the first such exercise hosted by the Indian Air Force in 61 years. However, as noted by the Indian Air Force chief, the IAF has already been involved in bilateral exercises with the Royal Air Force, French Air Force, US Air Force, and the Singapore Air Force.

What About Japan?

Although Japan is not participating in Tarang Shakti, it is important to understand that many countries that are friendly to Japan and India are participating. There has been increasing cooperation between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Japanese Air Self-Defense Forces (JASDF). 

The two countries held their first-ever joint Air Exercise, Veer Guardian-2023 at the Hyakuri Air Base in January 2023. The Indian contingent participating in the air exercise included four Su-30 MKI, two C-17, and one IL-78 aircraft. Meanwhile, the JASDF brought in four F-2 and four F-15 aircraft. This exercise was the result of the second 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial meeting held in Tokyo in September 2022 where the two countries agreed to step up their bilateral defence cooperation.

The Road Ahead

Exercises like Tarang Shakti will be highly beneficial in the long term since India faces a wide variety of threats, on the Western and the Eastern borders and also on the Northern borders. Notably, the Indian Air Force saw action during the Kargil War with Pakistan in 1999. It was also heavily involved in the skirmishes following the attacks by China in the summer of 2020 in the Galwan Valley in India. The fighting led to the first casualties between the two sides in 45 years.

Many countries involved in Tarang Shakti believe in the concept of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. And India is a very important part of the Indo-Pacific region. 

Through the Tarang Shakti exercise, New Delhi aims to further develop interoperability with the air forces of these nations. This will ultimately help keep the Indo-Pacific free from any kind of threat, both from state and non-state actors.

RELATED:

• Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN Concludes: What It Means for India and Japan
• Malabar 2023: Bringing the Quad Navies Together
• Talisman Sabre Joint Exercises Bring Friends Together for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific

Author: Dr Rupakjyoti Borah

Dr Rupakjyoti Borah is a Senior Research Fellow at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies. The views expressed here are personal.