Context: Recently, the Air Chief Marshal announced plans to make the Tarang Shakti exercise a biennial event.

About Exercise Tarang Shakti

• Description: Exercise Tarang Shakti is the inaugural multinational air exercise hosted by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

• Objective: To invite and collaborate with friendly foreign countries with whom the IAF interacts regularly and shares a certain degree of interoperability.

• Phases:

• Phase 1:  The first phase of the exercise comes to a close this month.

• Phase 2: The second phase is scheduled to be held at Jodhpur from September 1 to 14.

The exercise will have 18 countries joining in, 10 of them with air assets, with a total of 150 aircraft, both foreign and of the IAF taking part. Invitations had been extended to 51 countries.

Aims:

• To foster professional interactions among the participating forces.

• To enrich the employment philosophy of the forces.

• To facilitate the exchange of valuable insights.

• Significance: Provides a unique opportunity for these nations to collaborate and enhance their tactical and operational capabilities.