IAF chief ACM VR Chaudhari (2L) with German air chief Gen Stephane Mille (L), French air chief Lt Gen Ingo Gerhartz (2R), and Spanish air chief Francisco Braco Carbo, at the Sulur airbase. (Photo: Indian Air Force)
Sulur: The Indian Air Force is considering hosting the multinational air exercise “Tarang Shakti” biennially following the successful completion of its first phase in Sulur, Tamil Nadu, according to Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari.
During a news conference on Wednesday, alongside his counterparts from France, Germany, and Spain, the IAF chief said the service is keen to hold this exercise every other year, and it will decide later how many nations it can accommodate for the exercise.
The second phase of the exercise is set to take place in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, between August 29 and September 14. After this, the IAF will analyse feedback from the debriefings to determine the number of countries to invite for future exercises. ACM Chaudhari emphasized, “This certainly won't be the last one.”
On Tuesday, the IAF chief and his Spanish counterpart, Air General Francisco Braco Carbo, flew sorties in Russian-made Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft, while the French and German air chiefs, General Stephane Mille and Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, took to the skies in the indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
#IAF concluded the Phase-I of #ExTarangShakti24 at AF Station Sulur with an ultimate show of multinational synergy, wherein the IAF Chief Air Chief Mshl VR Chaudhari flew in a fighter aircraft formation with Gen Stephane Mille, Chief of Staff of the French Air & Space Force, Lt… pic.twitter.com/4lwq4I8UrX
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) August 14, 2024
The IAF extended invitations to 51 air forces globally, with 10 bringing fighter jets. The first phase saw participation from Germany, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom, with their respective aircraft. Germany, Spain, and the UK brought Eurofighter Typhoons, while France participated with Rafale jets. These air forces joined after taking part in Exercise Pitch Black – 2024 in Australia.
The exercise’s final day at Sulur featured aerial displays by various Indian aircraft, including the LCA Tejas, which ACM Chaudhari praised as the “epitome of India’s success in self-reliance”. He added, “We will use the aircraft more in air combat drills both within and outside the country.”
This marks India's largest multinational exercise in over six decades, with around 30 air forces participating across two phases. The second phase is scheduled for August 29 to September 14 in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
