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Tarang Shakti 2026 multilateral air exercise

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2026-10-10 13:42 UTC → 2026-10-10 16:10 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Indian Air Force concluded Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 at Jodhpur Air Force Station, following its run from September 26 to October 12. The multilateral exercise, themed ‘Power in Partnership’, involved air forces from seven Friendly Foreign Countries—Australia, Bangladesh, France, Germany, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States—alongside 32 observer nations. Technical highlights included the participation of six US F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters in their first tactical mission alongside the Indian Air Force, as well as French Rafales, Emirati F-16s, and German Airbus A400M transport aircraft. The drills also featured a significant presence of women officers, with over 25 women flying fighter jets and other aircraft. During the closing ceremonies, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the evolving nature of modern warfare, noting its expansion into space, cyber, the electromagnetic spectrum, and the information domain. Singh emphasized that future military power will be defined by the speed of sensing, understanding, deciding, and acting, rather than platform numbers alone. He also highlighted the growing influence of artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, and electronic warfare, while stressing the importance of international partnerships and defence self-reliance. A notable component of the exercise involved subject matter expert exchanges regarding ‘Operation Sindoor’, a retaliatory strike conducted by the IAF following the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack. Participating nations, including the US Air Force, engaged in these exchanges to learn from India’s experience with the operation.

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