Global Air Powers Unite: RAF Participates in India’s Multilateral Exercise
Pic Source : X post from @Team_Luftwaffe
In a significant display of international cooperation, the Royal Air Force (RAF) has joined forces with the Indian Air Force (IAF) and other global partners for the inaugural Exercise Tarang Shakti. This multilateral exercise, which commenced on August 6, 2024, brings together air forces from Germany, Spain, France, and the UK for a collaborative training experience.
The RAF contingent, comprising 130 personnel and a fleet of advanced aircraft, including six Eurofighter Typhoons, two A330 Voyager air-to-air refuellers, and an A-400M military transport aircraft, has arrived at Sulur Air Force Station in Tamil Nadu. This deployment marks a significant milestone in the ongoing relationship between the air forces of the UK and India.
Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India, said, “Exercise Tarang Shakti represents a major achievement for the Indian Air Force, and we are delighted to be a key participant. Our cooperation in security and defence extends across the seas, land, and air, and it is crucial that our armed forces work together to preserve stability and enhance prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.”
Group Captain Neil Jones, Air Adviser, British High Commission, added, “This exercise provides a unique opportunity for the RAF to work closely with the IAF and other nations in a challenging multilateral environment, significantly enhancing interoperability and sharing best practices.”
The RAF’s participation in Exercise Tarang Shakti follows a series of recent collaborations with the IAF, including Exercise Pitch Black in Australia and Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) in July 2024. These joint exercises demonstrate the strength of the UK-India defence partnership and the commitment to regional stability and cooperation.
The six Typhoons from XI (Fighter) Squadron, RAF Coningsby, arrived in India after participating in Exercise Pitch Black in Australia, where they operated alongside the IAF. The RAF and Indian Navy’s P8I aircraft flew together for the first-time during Exercise RIMPAC in July 2024. Both nations deployed the P8I maritime patrol aircraft to Hawaii for the largest maritime training exercise in the region. In March 2023, the IAF debuted at RAF’s multilateral Exercise Cobra Warrior, organised at Waddington Air Base in the UK.
