2024 marks a busy year for the Indian armed forces, with participation in a number of military exercises within India and abroad. In an attempt to intensify integration and jointness in the armed forces, the Indian Air Force (IAF) had announced three major exercises for 2024 – Vayu Shakti, Gagan Shakti and Tarang Shakti.[1] On 17 February 2024, Vayu Shakti demonstrated the IAF’s defensive and offensive capabilities, while Gagan Shakti tested its readiness and capabilities for high-intensity conflicts between 1-10 April, 2024 The recently concluded Tarang Shakti exercise was conducted in two phases; in Sulur, Tamil Nadu from 6-14 August 2024, and subsequently in Jodhpur, Rajasthan from 1-14 September 2024. The Tarang Shakti exercise, designated as India’s maiden multinational military exercise led by the IAF, aims to improve interoperability and operational coordination among participating Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs).[2]
The IAF doctrine released in 2022 highlights the IAF’s rapid response capabilities in Out of Area Contingencies (OOAC), which aim to strengthen the IAF’s capacity to safeguard national interests and support friendly nations when required.[3] Drawing on these lines, the Tarang Shakti exercise sought to showcase India’s defence capabilities, enhance professional interactions and cooperation across various capacities, and to boost stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The event saw the participation of 28 countries, where ten were participating and the rest 18 were observers.
Contextualising Tarang Shakti
Air diplomacy leverages an air force’s capabilities in supporting a nation’s diplomatic efforts beyond traditional military roles, and in influencing international relations and national interests. It offers distinct advantages such as speed, range, minimal logistical needs, and fewer personnel requirements compared to other forces.[4] Furthermore, it provides precise and lethal capabilities with low human risk, as no ground troops are involved. This approach allows for defending national interests, building partnerships, preventing conflict, and expanding influence without the backlash associated with large ground deployments. Air diplomacy also includes humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, strategic transport, aerial surveillance, joint training exercises, and goodwill missions.
Although doctrinal principles guide strategy in the use of force, whether independently or with other forces, achieving effective results depends on training and operational application.[5] Therefore, personnel must engage in realistic training that closely mirrors actual operations, in the form of military exercises that allow them to hone their skills and gain essential insights into force deployment. These activities help build international goodwill, strengthen alliances, and support broader foreign policy goals, showcasing a nation’s commitment to global stability, security, and cooperation. The IAF has regularly taken part in numerous bilateral and multilateral air combat training exercises, such as the US-led Red Flag, Australia’s Pitch Black, and the Israeli Air Force’s Blue Flag, promoting strategic partnerships and enhancing interoperability.
The Tarang Shakti exercise saw the participation of eleven prominent strategic partners- Australia, Bangladesh, France, Greece, Germany, Japan, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, UAE, the United Kingdom, the United States of America (USA) and 18 observer states. Owing to the ongoing conflicts happening in their respective regions, Russia and Israel, two prominent defence partners of India, were not participating in the exercise.[6] The two-phased multinational air exercise showcased a diverse array of air assets from various nations. The IAF’s presence was seen through the Tejas Mk 1, Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000, Rafale, and Dhruv, along with the Indian Navy’s MiG-29K. The Prachand light combat helicopter and Akash missile system were also a part of the aerial exercise. On the side of the foreign participant, Australia brought F-18 fighters, France showcased Rafales, and Germany, Spain, and the UK deployed European Eurofighter Typhoons.[7] Greece, the USA, and the UAE contributed F-16s, with the UAE also providing Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) support.[8] Singapore and Bangladesh added C-130 transport aircraft. The US demonstrated tactical versatility by deploying A-10 aircraft and Flight Refueling Aircraft (FRA).
Display of Indigenous Capabilities
On the sidelines of the Tarang Shakti exercise, the IAF organised the International Defence Aviation Exposition 2024 (IDAX 2024) to showcase its indigenous defence capabilities.[9] Held in Sulur and Jodhpur, the event showcased made-in-India technology and weapons, with participation from Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), Defence Research and Development Organisation DRDO, private industries, and startups. Inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the exposition emphasised India’s progress from an arms importer to an exporter to around 90 countries, with a focus on self-reliance in manufacturing weapons, platforms, and aircraft, including Light Combat Aircraft, sensors, radars, and electronic warfare systems.[10] The event also provided a platform for foreign collaboration, export opportunities, and multinational demonstrations of advanced military technologies.
A major highlight of the exercise was the aerial sortie at the Sulur airbase, featuring Indian Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, along with the air chiefs of Spain, France, and Germany—Francisco Braco Carbó, General Stephane Mille, and Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz—flying in two Russian-origin Su-30MKI jets and two LCA Tejas during an air show.[11] Along with this, the Vice Chiefs of the three arms of the armed forces flew together in the indigenously built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. Air Marshal AP Singh led the flight, with Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani and Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan joining in the twin-seater Tejas. This joint flight highlighted the growing emphasis on cross-domain cooperation among the armed forces, showcasing India’s integrated defense capabilities and commitment to self-reliance.[12]
Air Domain Awareness
As part of Exercise Tarang Shakti, India’s largest multinational air exercise, the IAF hosted a multinational symposium on ‘Air Domain Awareness’ in Jodhpur on 11 September 2024. Themed “Collaborative Approach to Facilitate Air Domain Awareness Towards Enhancing Regional Security”, the event provided a platform for participating nations to share ideas on improving cooperation and building a strong regional security framework, further reinforcing their strategic alliances.[13]
The concept of domain awareness, though informally recognised, lacks formal definition in defence doctrines despite its growing relevance in modern warfare. This gap, fuelled by the information and intelligence revolutions, has expanded the scope of multi-domain and joint all-domain operations (MDO/JADO), encompassing sea, air, land, space, and the cyber-electromagnetic spectrum.[14] Advances in sensors, AI, and C4ISR technologies have enabled comprehensive domain awareness, vital for peacetime and conflict scenarios. States increasingly integrate air and space into a unified aerospace domain, enhancing awareness capabilities.
Air Vice Marshal Anil Golani reiterated that the key challenges for air domain awareness include the proliferation of drones and unmanned systems, particularly by non-state actors, which complicate airspace security, especially over high seas and oceans.[15] The increasing use of near-space and hypersonic weapons adds further complexity. Multilateral cooperation is crucial in creating a Regional Air Domain Awareness (RADA) system, requiring sensor networks, satellite surveillance, and long-range radar integration. However, barriers like interoperability, data sharing, and policy issues must be addressed. Therefore, multilateral cooperation among like-minded nations is crucial to develop a shared RADA framework to effectively counter these threats.
Conclusion
In conclusion, air diplomacy, as demonstrated through multinational exercises like Tarang Shakti and initiatives such as the International Defence Aviation Exposition (IDAX 2024), plays a critical role in enhancing international relations, promoting strategic partnerships, and advancing national security objectives. In a bid to institutionalise and regularise this multinational endeavour, Then Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal V. R. Chaudhari announced that the multinational air exercise Tarang Shakti would now take place biennially.[16] He stated that the exercise focus on testing coordination between various aircraft formations, with the main challenges being “managing data links and ensuring seamless communication, with the goal of enhancing operational efficiency.”[17]
Exercise Tarang Shakti set a significant precedent for India, showcasing its expanding global defence influence and commitment to peace and security, especially through its broad spectrum of air capabilities. The exercise aimed to improve interoperability among participating air forces, enhancing operational effectiveness, and strengthening collective security. It also served as a strategic platform for India to deepen its geopolitical alliances and strengthen defence relationships by building goodwill and trust among nations. As air forces evolve to meet emerging threats, continued collaboration, technological innovation, and realistic training will remain key to ensuring regional stability, security, and cooperation.
Views expressed are of the author solely.
[1] ANI, “IAF to carry out three mega exercises, joint warfighting to be focus in biggest ever wargames”, The Economic Times, 7 February 2024.
[2] “Historic Flight by Vice Chiefs of Army, Navy, and Air Force Marks Milestone in Indigenous Defence Capabilities”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, 9 September 2024.
[3] “Doctrine of the Indian Air Force”, Indian Air Force Publication (IAP) 2000-2022, Indian Air Force, Government of India, 2022.
[4] James O. Poss, “Air Power: The New Gunboat Diplomacy”, US Naval War College, Newport, June 1994.
[5] Ibid.
[6] PTI, “‘Tarang Shakti’, largest multilateral air exercise in India, to be held in 2 phases in Aug-Sept”, The Indian Express, 31 July 2024.
[7] Simontini Bhattacharjee, “Largest international air exercise, growing military prowess… Tarang Shakti ticks all the boxes”, Millennium Post, 12 September 2024.
[8] Ibid.
[9] “IAF Set to Host The Indian Defence Aviation Exposition-II At Jodhpur”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, 11 September 2024.
[10] Ibid.
[11] The Hindu Bureau, “Multilateral air exercise Tarang Shakti to be made a biennial event: IAF Chief”, The Hindu, 14 August 2024.
[12] “Historic Flight by Vice Chiefs of Army, Navy, and Air Force Marks Milestone in Indigenous Defence Capabilities”, See No. 2.
[13] “IAF Conducts Symposium on ‘Air Domain Awareness’ During Exercise Tarang Shakti 2024”, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, 11 September 2024.
[14] Robert M. Ryder, “Domain Awareness Superiority Is the Future of Military Intelligence”, Military Review, November-December 2021.
[15] Anil Golani, “Air Domain Awareness and Regional Security”, Chanakya Forum, 16 September 2024.
[16] ANI, “Tarang Shakti: “We are going to formalize pattern in which…”says Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari”, The Economic Times, 13 September 2024.
[17] The Hindu Bureau, “India’s multi-national air exercise ‘Tarang Shakti 2024’ begins in Coimbatore”, The Hindu, 6 August 2024.
