List of exercises of the Indian Air Force

Indian Air Force's MiG 27 in a formation with US Air Force's F-15 in exercise Cope India 2004
IAF Su-30MKIs and RAF Eurofighter Typhoons during Indradhanush 2010 exercise

The Indian Air Force engages in multiple military exercises with foreign nations and their air forces to increase interoperability between themselves. Some are also multinational exercise. Some of the regular exercises were IAF participates include:

  1. Exercise Garuda (India, France)
  2. Cope India (India, United States)
  3. SINDEX (India, Singapore)
  4. Gaganshakti (only India)
  5. Indradhanush (India, UK)
  6. Exercise Red Flag (Multinational, Host: USA)
  7. Exercise Desert Eagle (India, UAE)
  8. Exercise Eastern Bridge (India, Oman)
  9. Exercise Iron Fist (only India)
  10. Red Flag – Alaska (Multinational, Host: United States)
  11. Siam Bharat (India, Thailand)
  12. Pralay Shayam (Disaster response exercise)
  13. Exercise INDRA –bilateral (India, Russia)
  14. Exercise Blue Flag (Multinational, Host: Israel)
  15. Exercise DANX (only India)
  16. Exercise Pitch Black (Multinational, Host: Australia)
  17. Shinyuu Maitri (India, Japan)
  18. Vayushakti (only India)
  19. Exercise Desert Knight (India, France, UAE)
  20. Exercise Desert Warrior (India, Egypt)
  21. Exercise Cobra Warrior (Multinational, Host: United Kingdom)
  22. Exercise Udara Shakti (India, Malaysia)
  23. Bharat Shakti (Tri-service)
  24. Exercise Tarang Shakti (Multinational, Host: India)

List

The following is a list of exercises of the Indian Air Force.

Name Participating Country Units Date Location References
1963
Exercise Shiksha
  • Australia,
  • India,
  • United Kingdom,
  • United States
 Palam AFS, India [1]
2003
Garuda I France Maharajpur AFS, India [2]
2004
Cope India United States 16 - 27 February Gwalior AFS, India [3][4]
Sindex I Singapore Gwalior AFS, India
2005
Garuda II France Istres Air Base, France [5]
2006
Sindex II Singapore 3 - 20 January Kalaikunda AFS, India [6]
Gagan Shakti - 4 - 27 September [7]
Indradhanush I United Kingdom 2 - 13 October Gwalior AFS, India [7]
Sindex III Singapore 8 November Kalaikunda AFS, India [8]
Sindex IV Singapore 8 - 22 December Paya Lebar Air Base, Singapore [7]
2007
Garuda III France 13 - 25 February Kalaikunda AFS, India [9]
Indradhanush II United Kingdom RAF Waddington, United Kingdom [10]
Sindex V Singapore 26 November - 13 December Kalaikunda AFS, India [11][12]
2008
Red Flag
  • United States
  • France
  • South Korea
 9 - 23 August Nellis AFB, United States [13][14][15][16]
Exercise Desert Eagle I UAE September Al-Dhafra airbase, UAE [17]
2009
Cope India United States 19 - 23 October Agra AFS, India [18][19]
Eastern Bridge I Oman 31 October Jamnagar AFS, India [20]
2010
Garuda IV
  • France
  • Singapore
 14 - 25 June Istres Air Base, France [21]
Indradhanush III United Kingdom 18 October - 3 November Kalaikunda AFS, West Bengal [22]
2011
Eastern Bridge II Oman 22 October Jamnagar AFS, India [23][24]
2013
Iron Fist - February 2013 Pokhran, India [25][26][27]
2014
Garuda V France 2 - 13 June Jodhpur AFS, India [28][29][30]
2015
Indradhanush IV United Kingdom 30 July RAF Coningsby and RAF Brize Norton, United Kingdom [31]
2016
Iron Fist - 18 March Pokhran, India [32][33]
Red Flag – Alaska 16-1 United States 28 April - May 13 Eielson AFB, United States [34][35][36]
Desert Eagle II UAE May 24 - June 3 Al-Dhafra airbase, UAE [17][37][38]
Siam Bharat I Thailand [39]
2017
Eastern Bridge IV Oman 16 - 20 January Jamnagar AFS, India [40][41][42]
Siam Bharat II Thailand 22 - 26 May Chiang Mai, Thailand [43][44][45]
Sri Lanka
  • Air warrior drill team
 9 - 14 July Colombo, Sri Lanka [46][47][48]
Pralay Shayam (Disaster response exercise) - 23 September Hyderabad, India [49]
Indra (tri-service) Russia 19 - 29 October Sergeyvsky Training Ranges, Russia [50]
Blue Flag
  • Israel
  • United States
  • Greece
  • Poland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Italy
 2 - 6 November Uvda Air Force Base, Israel [51][52][53][54]
DANX (Defence of Andaman & Nicobar Exercise) — 20 - 24 November Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India [55]
2018
Gaganshakti — 8 - 22 April India [56][57][58]
Pitch Black
  • Australia
  • United States
  • Netherlands
  • France
  • Germany
  • Canada
  • Indonesia
  • New Zealand
  • Singapore
  • Thailand
  • Malaysia
 27 July - 18 August Darwin Air Force Base, Australia [59][60][61]
Bi-lateral exercise Indonesia 20 - 22 August Subang Air Base, Malaysia [62]
Aviaindra Russia 17 - 28 September Lipetsk, Russia [63][64]
10 - 22 December Jodhpur, India
Cope India United States 3 - 14 December Kalaikunda and Panagarh Air Force Stations, India [65]
Shinyuu Maitri - Bi-Lateral Exercise Japan 03-7 December AFS Agra [66]
2019
Vayushakti 19 — 16 February Pokhran, India [67][68]
Garud VI France 1 - 12 July Mont-de-Marsan, France [69]
2021
Exercise Desert Knight 21 India & France 23 January Jodhpur AFS, India [70]
Desert Warrior- Joint Tactical Air Exercise Egypt 30-31 October El Berigat Air Base, Egypt [71]
2022
Pitch Black
  • Australia,
  • Canada,
  • France,
  • Germany,
  • India,
  • Indonesia,
  • Japan,
  • South Korea,
  • Malaysia,
  • Netherlands,
  • New Zealand,
  • Philippines,
  • Singapore,
  • Thailand,
  • United Arab Emirates,
  • United Kingdom,
  • United States
 27 July - 18 August Darwin Air Force Base, Australia [72]
Garuda VII France 26 October to 12 November Jodhpur AFS, India [73][2]
2023
Exercise Cobra Warrior 23-1
  • United Kingdom,
  • Belgium,
  • Finland,
  • India,
  • Saudi Arabia,
  • United States
 145 personnel 6 March to 24 March [74][75]
2024
Exercise Desert Knight 24
  • India,
  • France,
  • United Arab Emirates
 23 January Arabian Sea, Indian FIS [76][77]
Vayushakti 24 — >121 aircraft 17 February Pokhran, India [78][67][68]
Bharat Shakti (Tri-service) — 12 March Pokhran, India [79][80][81][82]
Gaganshakti — All units of IAF 1 - 10 April India [83][84][85]
Red Flag – Alaska 24-2
  • Germany,
  • India,
  • Netherlands,
  • Singapore,
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
 4 - 14 June Eielson Air Force Base, United States [86][87]
Pitch Black
  • Australia,
  • Canada,
  • France,
  • India,
  • Indonesia,
  • Germany,
  • Japan,
  • Malaysia,
  • New Zealand,
  • Singapore,
  • South Korea,
  • Thailand,
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Brunei,
  • Fiji,
  • Italy,
  • Spain,
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Philippines
 27 July - 18 August Darwin Air Force Base, Australia [88]
Exercise Udara Shakti Malaysia 5 - 9 August Kuantan, Malaysia [89][90]
Exercise Tarang Shakti Phase I
  • India,
  • France,
  • Germany,
  • Spain,
  • United Kingdom.

Phase II

  • India,
  • Australia
  • Bangladesh,
  • Greek,
  • Singapore,
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United States
 Phase I– 6 - 14 August

Phase II– 29 August to 14 September

[91][92]
Exercise Eastern Bridge VII Oman India: MiG-29, Jaguar, C-17

Oman: F-16, Hawk

11 - 22 September RAFO Masirah [93][94]
Joint Military Training Singapore India: Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000, MiG-29, Jaguar, Tejas

Singapore: F-16, F-15, G-550 AEW&C, C-130

21 October - 9 December Kalaikunda AFS [95]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Exercise Shiksha". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  2. ^ a b "Garuda VII". Drishti IAS. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  3. ^ "Exercise Cope India 04". indianairforce.nic.in. Archived from the original on 2009-06-19. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  4. ^ "Cope India: when India's Russian jets achieved a surprising 9:1 kill ratio against U.S. F-15s". The Aviationist. 2014-05-02. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  5. ^ "Exercise Garuda V – Strengthening strategic partnership". www.spsmai.com. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  6. ^ "Press Information Bureau". Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  7. ^ a b c "Press Information Bureau". Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  8. ^ "Press Information Bureau". Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  9. ^ "Indo-French joint air exercise Garuda-III begins". Press Information Bureau. 2007-02-13. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  10. ^ here, RAF Details. "RAF - News by Date". www.raf.mod.uk. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  11. ^ "Singapore and India in Bilateral Air Exercise - SINDEX 07". www.mindef.gov.sg. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  12. ^ "EXERCISE SINDEX 2007". indianairforce.nic.in. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  13. ^ "Press Information Bureau". Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  14. ^ "Press Information Bureau". Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  15. ^ "Press Information Bureau". Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  16. ^ "Exercises - Red Flag Aug 08". indianairforce.nic.in. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  17. ^ a b "India holds air combat exercise with UAE - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  18. ^ "Indo-US Exercise - Cope India 2009 - SP's Aviation". www.sps-aviation.com. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  19. ^ "EXERCISE COPE INDIA 09". indianairforce.nic.in. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  20. ^ Dikshit, Sandeep (2009-10-31). "India, Oman conduct first joint air exercise". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  21. ^ "Exercise 'GARUDA' begins". Press Information Bureau. 2010-07-14. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  22. ^ "Press Information Bureau". Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  23. ^ "Second India-Oman joint air exercises end". The Hindu. 2011-10-22. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  24. ^ "Indian Air Force exercises". indianairforce.nic.in. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  25. ^ "Iron Fist 2013: IAF displays precision fire power capabilities in Pokhran range - | Photo1 | India Today |". indiatoday.intoday.in. 23 February 2013. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  26. ^ "PICS: IAFs supremacy at IRON FIST along Pak border - Rediff.com News". www.rediff.com. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  27. ^ "Indian Air Force displays prowess at Pokhran air show". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  28. ^ "Exercise Garuda V – Strengthening strategic partnership". www.spsmai.com. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  29. ^ "Indo-French Air Exercise "Garuda V"". La France en Inde / France in India. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  30. ^ "Air Exercise Between Indian Air Force and French Air Force (Exercise Garuda V) Commences at Jodhpur". pib.nic.in. Archived from the original on 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  31. ^ "Exercise Indradhanush: Flankers And Typhoons Battle In British Skies". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  32. ^ "Indian Air Force to showcase combat capability at Iron Fist-2016". The Economic Times. 2016-03-10. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  33. ^ "Iron Fist 2016: IAF showcases combat capabilities in Pokhran | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". dna. 2016-03-18. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  34. ^ "India and U.S. fly 'Red Flag' high". The Hindu. 2016-05-15. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  35. ^ "Press Information Bureau". Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  36. ^ "Press Information Bureau". Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  37. ^ "IAF Participation in Ex Desert Eagle – II at UAE". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  38. ^ "Exercise Desert Eagle-II Concludes Today". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  39. ^ "Joint Military Exercises". Press Information Bureau. 2018-07-18. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  40. ^ "Indian Air Force and Royal Air Force of Oman to hold joint exercise - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  41. ^ "Indian AIR Force and Royal AIR Force of OMAN Chiefs review exercise eastern BRIDGE-IV at Jamnagar". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  42. ^ "Arabian Aerospace - Oman continues to build bridges with India". www.arabianaerospace.aero. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  43. ^ "Press Information Bureau". Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  44. ^ "IAF participates in joint exercise with Thai air force". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 2017-05-26. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  45. ^ "IAF participates in joint exercise with Thai air force | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". dna. 2017-05-26. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  46. ^ "Press Information Bureau". Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  47. ^ "IAF conducts five-day exercise with Lankan air force". www.outlookindia.com. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  48. ^ "Indian Air Force conducts exercises with Sri Lankan troops in Amparai | Tamil Guardian". www.tamilguardian.com. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  49. ^ "Multi-Agency Exercise 'Pralay Sahayam' Held". Press Information Bureau. 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  50. ^ "Joint Indo-Russia Tri-Services Exercise Indra-2017 successfully conducted". Press Information Bureau. 2017-11-01. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  51. ^ "Press Information Bureau". Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  52. ^ "India Air Force heads to Israel to begin military air exercises". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  53. ^ "IAF to participate in multilateral air exercise in Israel". The Economic Times. 2017-10-31. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  54. ^ Opall-Rome, Barbara (2017-08-08). "Israeli Air Force to host 7 nations in its largest-ever air drill". Defense News. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  55. ^ "As China becomes more aggressive, in a first Indian Military conducts exercise to Liberate Andaman". India Today. 2017-11-24. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
  56. ^ "IAF kicks off its biggest combat drill Gagan Shakti in Jaisalmer - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-04-12.
  57. ^ "Indian Air Force shows its might at war exercise 'Gagan Shakti' - Show of strength". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  58. ^ "Air Force Sukhoi Fighter Jet Refuel Mid-Air In Big Wargames Exercise". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  59. ^ "Indian Air Force Participates for the First Time in Exercise Pitch Black – 18 with Royal Australian Air Force". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  60. ^ Diplomat, Franz-Stefan Gady, The. "India's Air Force to Participate in Australia's 'Pitch Black' Air Combat Exercise". The Diplomat. Retrieved 2018-08-01.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  61. ^ "Conclusion: Exercise Pitch Black 2018, RAAF Base Darwin, Australia (24 Jul 18 – 18 Aug 18)". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 2018-08-23.
  62. ^ "IAF Contingent Returns to India on Completion of Ex Pitch Black 2018". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 2018-08-23.
  63. ^ "Exercise Aviaindra-18 Commences at Lipetsk (Russia)". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
  64. ^ "Exercise Aviaindra-18". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
  65. ^ "Air forces of the US and India to hold joint exercise 'Cope India 2019'". The Economic Times. 2018-11-29. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  66. ^ "EX SHINYUU Maitri-2018 With JASDF Commences". Press Information Bureau. 2018-12-08. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  67. ^ a b "EXERCISE VAYUSHAKTI-2024". Press Information Bureau. 2024-02-02. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  68. ^ a b "Exercise Vayu Shakti-24: IAF showcases its offensive capabilities at Pokhran". Hindustan Times. 2024-02-18. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  69. ^ "Culmination of Exercise Garuda-VI". Press Information Bureau. 2019-07-19. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  70. ^ "IAF and FASF Conclude Ex Desert Knight 2021". indianairforce.nic.in. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  71. ^ "Air forces of India and Egypt conduct two-day joint exercise | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. PTI. Nov 2, 2021. Retrieved 2022-12-09.
  72. ^ "Exercise Pitch Black 2022 Concludes". Press Information Bureau. 2022-09-13. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  73. ^ "EXERCISE GARUDA - VII AT AIR FORCE STATION JODHPUR". Press Information Bureau. 2022-10-28. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  74. ^ "Exercise COBRA WARRIOR". raf.mod.uk. 2023-03-16. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  75. ^ "INDIAN AIR FORCE TO PARTICIPATE IN EXERCISE COBRA WARRIOR AT WADDINGTON IN UK". Press Information Bureau. 2023-02-26. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  76. ^ "Indian Air Force (IAF) conducts 'Exercise Desert Knight' with France and UAE counterparts. Check visuals here". The Economic Times. 2024-01-24. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  77. ^ "PRESS RELEASE: EX- DESERT KNIGHT". Press Information Bureau. 2024-01-24. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  78. ^ "Big "Supersonic" Bang: IAF's Exercise Vayu Shakti 2024 set to impress". The Economic Times. 2024-02-14. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  79. ^ "Bharat Shakti exercise tests tri-service fire power, showcases indigenous defence equipment". The Hindu. 2024-03-12. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  80. ^ "Exercise Bharat Shakti". Drishti IAS. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  81. ^ Deshpande, Smruti (2024-03-14). "Here are all 'Made in India' weapons systems showcased during tri-service 'Bharat Shakti' exercise". ThePrint. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  82. ^ "Tri-service exercise 'Bharat Shakti' to demonstrate prowess of indigenously manufactured equipment". The Economic Times. 2024-03-09. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  83. ^ "Gagan Shakti-2024". Drishti IAS. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  84. ^ "Indian Army provides logistic support to Indian Air Force for upcoming Exercise Gagan Shakti". The Economic Times. 2024-03-26. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  85. ^ Arora, Sumit (2024-04-02). "IAF's 10-day mega exercise 'Gagan Shakti' begins from April 1-10". adda247. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  86. ^ "IAF's Rafale aircraft participate in Red Flag exercise in Alaska". The Economic Times. 2024-06-16. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  87. ^ "Indian Air Force participates in Red Flag Alaska 24-2". Eielson Air Force Base. 2024-06-17. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  88. ^ "INDIAN AIR FORCE EX PITCH BLACK 2024 AT DARWIN, AUSTRALIA". Press Information Bureau. 2024-07-11. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  89. ^ @DDNewsLive (2024-08-06). "The Indian Air Force contingent arrived at Kuantan, Malaysia to participate in bilateral Air Exercise Udara Shakti- 2024 with the Royal Malaysian Air Force..." (Tweet). Retrieved 2024-08-07 – via Twitter.
  90. ^ PTI; ThePrint (2024-07-09). "IAF's Su-30 MKIs to be part of 20-nation mega 'Exercise Pitch Black' in Australia". ThePrint. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  91. ^ "What is Tarang Shakti, the largest military exercise that India will host?". Hindustan Times. 2024-07-31. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  92. ^ Ray, Kalyan. "Exercise Tarang Shakti: India's Largest multinational air exercise to begin on August 6". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  93. ^ "IAF AIRCRAFT SET COURSE FOR EXERCISE EASTERN BRIDGE VII AT OMAN". Press Information Bureau. 2024-09-11. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  94. ^ "INDIAN AIR FORCE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES EXERCISE EASTERN BRIDGE VIIAT RAFO MASIRAH". Press Information Bureau. 2024-09-21. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  95. ^ "India, Singapore kick off air force exercise". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-10-22.