From August 6th to September 14th India will host Tarang Shakti 2024, India’s biggest ever multinational air exercise, the Indian Air Force (IAF) announced on Wednesday, saying that 51 countries have been invited to take part in the exercise that will take place in two phases. While Italy has been invited, it is not one of the 10 countries which has confirmed attendance so far nor is it clear if it is one of the countries that has even confirmed participation as observers.

Confirmed European participants include Spain, France, Germany and Greece. Germany, is a new entrant to the Indo-Pacific and will be flying its Typhoons and Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA), the A-400M, at the Tarang Shakti. It’s important to note that the IAF has recently issued a tender for MTAs to replace its aging fleet of AVRO-748 and An 32s. Germany’s A-400 M is competing for the IAF tender and Berlin will be showcasing its capabilities in war simulations to acquire an edge over its competitors, wrote Swasti Rao, a researcher with the IDSA.

While Germany is highlighting its A-400M’s, trying to develop a “symbiotic relationship” with India and aiming for enhanced defense industry partnership, the overall package will be essential. The most important agreement will be on the FADEC, Full Authority Digital Engine Control, of the aircraft. Talks with Russia stalled due to disagreement on the FADEC after years of negotiations and current interested participants include Brazil’s C390 by Embraer, Germany’s A-400M by Airbus, and Russia’s Ilyushin Il-276 by the United Aircraft Corporation. Ukraine had offered its An-178 MTA prior to the war, Rao stated.

While Phase-I will be from August 6 to 14 at Air Force Station in Tamil Nadu’s Sulur it will feature Germany, France, Spain, and the UK.  Phase-II will be held between August 29 and September 14 at Air Force Station Jodhpur and include Australia, Bangladesh, Singapore, Greece, UAE and USA along with 18 Countries as observers. This is the first time since its independence in 1971 that the Bangladesh Air Force, which originates in united India, will operate from Indian territory.

The US is taking part in the Tarang Shakti 2024 but without the F-35. The country  will participate with their F-16 and A-10 aircraft, said Air Marshal AP Singh, Vice Chief of Air Staff, IAF.

“There will also be an exhibition of Made in India at both Sulur and Jodhpur during the exercise,” Air Marshal AP Singh said adding that the focus of Tarang Shakti 2024 is on enhancing mutual understanding of air power, realistic operations, and showcasing indigenous defense equipment. “Our assets like Tejas, Prachand, Dhruv and Rudra will be taking part actively in the flying part in showcasing our Indigenous products also in line with India’s goal to become a developed nation by 2047 and to take our defense cooperation with our friendly neighbors and friendly other countries to a next level,” he said.

“We will also utilize this exercise period to showcase our indigenous capabilities in the DRDO, in the defense research as well as defense production by carrying out an industrial defense aviation exposition,” Singh added. One of India’s main objectives at the exercise will be to showcase its indigenous production under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) Initiative. 

Russia, though invited, declined to participate due to the war and Israel was not invited to participate. While Japan has still not confirmed participation, it is hoped that all Quad countries will participate in this exercise given the commitment shown at the Quad Foreign Ministers Summit held in Tokyo in July.

Tarang Shakti is held soon after Australia’s multinational wargame Pitch Black that will conclude on August 2. An IAF contingent with Su-30MKI fighters, a C-17 Globemaster transport and an IL-78 mid-air refueller participated in this exercise.It is inspired by the US Red Flag Exercise known for its realistic scenarios and multinational participation. The Indian Air Force conducted the longest ferry of aircraft to Alaska for Exercise Red Flag earlier this year.

The objective is to develop cooperation with allies in a heated Indo-Pacific theater in a period where tensions with China are at an all time high. India also hopes to encourage European investment into its defense clusters and encourage Make in India collaborations.