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. The following is a list of exercises of the Indian Air Force.:
Exercise Garuda (India, France) Cope India (India, United States) SINDEX (India, Singapore) Gaganshakti (only India) Indradhanush (India, UK) Exercise Red Flag (Multinational, Host: USA) Exercise Desert Eagle (India, UAE) Exercise Eastern Bridge (India, Oman) Exercise Iron Fist (only India) Red Flag – Alaska (Multinational, Host: United States) Siam Bharat (India, Thailand) Pralay Shayam (Disaster response exercise) Exercise INDRA –bilateral (India, Russia) Exercise Blue Flag (Multinational, Host: Israel) Exercise DANX (only India) Exercise Pitch Black (Multinational, Host: Australia) Aviaindra (India, Russia) Shinyuu Maitri (India, Japan) Vayushakti (only India) Exercise Desert Knight (India, France, UAE) Exercise Desert Warrior (India, Egypt) Exercise Cobra Warrior (Multinational, Host: United Kingdom) Exercise Udara Shakti (India, Malaysia) Bharat Shakti (Tri-service) Exercise Tarang Shakti (Multinational, Host: India) Exercise INIOCHOS (Multinational, Host: Greece) Exercise Desert Flag (Multinational, Host: UAE) Exercise Aakraman (only India) Exercise Tiger Claw (India, United States) (Special Forces) Exercise Ocean Sky (Multinational, Host: Spain) Exercise Veer Guardian (India, Japan)
The Indian Air Force's participation in multinational air exercises has evolved significantly over the decades. From early bilateral training drills to hosting full-scale multilateral exercises such as Tarang Shakti, this evolution has reflected India’s growing airpower confidence, interoperability goals, and strategic partnerships. A detailed historical narrative on this transformation has been documented.
1963 NameParticipating CountryUnitsDateLocationReferences1963Exercise Shiksha Australia, India (Host), United Kingdom, United StatesPalam AFS, India
2000 – 2010 NameParticipating CountryUnitsDateLocationReferences2003Garuda IFranceMaharajpur AFS, India2004Cope IndiaUnited States Sukhoi Su-30 MKI Dassault Mirage 2000 Mikoyan MiG-27 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-2116 - 27 FebruaryGwalior AFS, IndiaSindex ISingaporeGwalior AFS, India2005Garuda IIFranceIstres Air Base, France2006Sindex IISingapore Mikoyan MiG-273 - 20 January Kalaikunda AFS, IndiaGagan Shakti -4 - 27 September Western Air Command South Western Air CommandIndradhanush IUnited Kingdom2 - 13 OctoberGwalior AFS, IndiaSindex IIISingapore Mikoyan MiG-278 NovemberKalaikunda AFS, IndiaSindex IVSingapore8 - 22 DecemberPaya Lebar Air Base, Singapore2007Garuda IIIFrance Sukhoi Su-30 MKI Dassault Mirage 2000 Mikoyan MiG-2713 - 25 FebruaryKalaikunda AFS, IndiaIndradhanush IIUnited Kingdom Sukhoi Su-30 MKI 1 Ilyushin IL-78 MKIRAF Waddington, United KingdomSindex VSingapore Mikoyan MiG-27, No. 18 Squadron26 November - 13 DecemberKalaikunda AFS, India2008Red FlagUnited States (Host), India, France, South Korea 8 Sukhoi Su-30 MKI 2 Ilyushin IL-78 MKI 2 Ilyushin Il-76 247 Garud Commandos9 - 23 AugustNellis AFB, United StatesExercise Desert Eagle IUAESeptemberAl-Dhafra airbase, UAE2009Cope IndiaUnited States Ilyushin Il-76 Antonov An-32 Mil Mi-17 Garud Commandos19 - 23 OctoberAgra AFS, IndiaEastern Bridge IOman 6 SEPECAT Jaguar 1 Ilyushin IL-78 MKI 1 Ilyushin Il-7631 OctoberJamnagar AFS, India2010Vayushakti 10—Fighter aircraft Su-30MKI Mirage 2000 MiG-27 MiG-29
Helicopters
Mi-35 (attack helicopter; 104 Squadron) Mi-17 (medium-lift helicopter)
Transport aircraft
Il-76 (heavy-lift; 44 Squadron) An-32 (medium-lift)
AWACS
A-50EI (50 Squadron)
Indian Special Forces
Garud Commando Force Para SF MARCOS
Aerobatics team
Surya Kiran Sarang28 FebruaryChandan Fire Range, Pokhran, IndiaGaruda IVIndia, France (Host), Singapore 6 Sukhoi Su-30 MKI 3 Ilyushin IL-78 MKI 1 Ilyushin Il-7614 - 25 JuneIstres Air Base, FranceIndradhanush IIIUnited Kingdom Sukhoi Su-30 MKI Dassault Mirage 2000 Mikoyan MiG-27 Ilyushin IL-78 MKI Beriev A-5018 October - 3 NovemberKalaikunda AFS, West Bengal
2011 – 2020 NameParticipating CountryUnitsDateLocationReferences2011Eastern Bridge IIOman SEPECAT Jaguar (6 Squadron) Mikoyan MiG-29 (28 Squadron)22 OctoberJamnagar AFS, India2013Iron Fist - Sukhoi Su-30 MKI SEPECAT Jaguar Mikoyan MiG-29 HAL Tejas Mikoyan MiG-27 Dassault Mirage 2000 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules Antonov An-32 Ilyushin Il-76 Beriev A-50 Mil Mi-8 Mil Mi-17 Mil Mi-35February 2013Pokhran, India2014Garuda VFrance 4 Sukhoi Su-30 MKI 4 Mikoyan MiG-27 4 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 1 Ilyushin IL-78 MKI 1 Beriev A-502 - 13 JuneJodhpur AFS, India2015Indradhanush IVUnited Kingdom 4 Sukhoi Su-30 MKI, No. 2 Squadron 1 Ilyushin IL-78 MKI 1 Boeing C-17 Globemaster III30 JulyRAF Coningsby and RAF Brize Norton, United Kingdom2016Iron Fist - Sukhoi Su-30 MKI HAL Tejas Suryakiran Aerobatic Team Garud Commando Force18 MarchPokhran, IndiaRed Flag – Alaska 16-1United States 4 Sukhoi Su-30 MKI 4 SEPECAT Jaguar 2 Ilyushin IL-78 MKI 1 Boeing C-17 Globemaster III28 April - May 13Eielson AFB, United StatesDesert Eagle IIUAE 4 Sukhoi Su-30 MKIMay 24 - June 3Al-Dhafra airbase, UAESiam Bharat IThailand2017Eastern Bridge IVOman Sukhoi Su-30 MKI Mikoyan Mig-29 SEPECAT Jaguar Mikoyan MiG-2716 - 20 JanuaryJamnagar AFS, IndiaSiam Bharat IIThailand22 - 26 MayChiang Mai, ThailandSri Lanka Air warrior drill team9 - 14 JulyColombo, Sri LankaPralay Shayam (Disaster response exercise) - Mil Mi-17 HAL Dhruv HAL Chetak23 SeptemberHyderabad, IndiaIndra (tri-service)Russia 2 Ilyushin Il-7619 - 29 OctoberSergeyvsky Training Ranges, RussiaBlue FlagIsrael (Host), India and 6 other nations 1 Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules 45 Garud Commandos2 - 6 NovemberUvda Air Force Base, IsraelDANX (Defence of Andaman & Nicobar Exercise) — SEPECAT Jaguar Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules20 - 24 NovemberAndaman & Nicobar Islands, India2018Gaganshakti — Sukhoi Su-30 MKI Mikoyan Mig-29 SEPECAT Jaguar HAL Tejas Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Mikoyan MiG-27 Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules Ilyushin IL-78 MKI8 - 22 AprilIndiaPitch BlackAustralia (Host), India and 10 other nations 4 Sukhoi Su-30 MKI 1 Ilyushin IL-78 MKI 1 Boeing C-17 Globemaster III 1 Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules 145 Garud Commandos27 July - 18 AugustDarwin Air Force Base, AustraliaBi-lateral exerciseIndonesia20 - 22 AugustSubang Air Base, MalaysiaAviaindraRussia Sukhoi Su-30 MKI Mikoyan Mig-29 Mil Mi-817 - 28 SeptemberLipetsk, Russia10 - 22 DecemberJodhpur, IndiaCope IndiaUnited States3 - 14 DecemberKalaikunda and Panagarh Air Force Stations, IndiaShinyuu Maitri - Bi-Lateral ExerciseJapan C-17 Globemaster Antonov An-3203-7 DecemberAFS Agra2019Vayushakti 19—16 FebruaryPokhran, IndiaGarud VIFranceSukhoi Su-30 MKI Dassault Rafale Ilyushin IL-78 C-17 Globemaster1 - 12 JulyMont-de-Marsan, France
2020 – present NameParticipating CountryUnitsDateLocationReferences2021Exercise Desert Knight 21India & France India- Su-30 MKI, Mirage 2000, Beriev A-50, C-130-J and Il-78MKI France- Rafale, A330 MRTT, A400M23 JanuaryJodhpur AFS, IndiaDesert Warrior- Joint Tactical Air ExerciseEgypt 30-31 October El Berigat Air Base, Egypt2022Pitch BlackAustralia (Host), India and 15 other nations 4 Sukhoi Su-30 MKI 1 Ilyushin IL-78 MKI 1 Boeing C-17 Globemaster III27 July - 18 AugustDarwin Air Force Base, AustraliaGaruda VIIFrance Sukhoi Su-30 MKI Dassault Rafale HAL Tejas SEPECAT Jaguar HAL Prachand Mil Mi-17 1 Ilyushin IL-78 MKI other unspecified AEW&C26 October to 12 NovemberJodhpur AFS, India2023Exercise Cobra Warrior 23-1 United Kingdom (Host), Belgium, Finland, India, Saudi Arabia, United States145 personnel 5 Dassault Mirage 2000 1 Ilyushin IL-78 MKI 2 Boeing C-17 Globemaster III6 March to 24 March RAF Waddington RAF Coningsby2024Exercise Desert Knight 24 India (Host), France, United Arab Emirates India- Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, Jaguar, Beriev A-50, C-130-J and Il-78MKI France- Rafale, A330 MRTT UAE- F-1623 JanuaryArabian Sea, Indian FISVayushakti 24—>121 aircraft
Fighter jets – Tejas, Rafale, Mirage 2000, MiG-29, Su-30 MKI, Jaguar, Hawk Transport aircraft – C-130J Helicopter – Prachand, Dhruv, Chinook, Apache, Mi-17 Surface to Air Missiles – Akash, SAMAR17 FebruaryPokhran, IndiaBharat Shakti (Tri-service)— HAL Tejas HAL Dhruv HAL Rudra HAL Prachand12 MarchPokhran, IndiaGaganshakti—All units of IAF1 - 10 AprilIndiaRed Flag – Alaska 24-2 Germany, India, Netherlands, Singapore, United Kingdom United States (Host) 8 Dassault Rafale 1 Ilyushin IL-78 MKI 1 Boeing C-17 Globemaster III4 - 14 JuneEielson Air Force Base, United StatesPitch BlackAustralia (Host), India and 18 other nations 4 Sukhoi Su-30 MKI 1 Ilyushin IL-78 MKI 1 Boeing C-17 Globemaster III27 July - 18 AugustDarwin Air Force Base, AustraliaExercise Udara ShaktiMalaysia5 - 9 AugustKuantan, MalaysiaTarang ShaktiPhase I India (Host), France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom. Phase II
India (Host), Australia, Bangladesh, Greece, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, United StatesPhase I– 6 - 14 August
Phase II– 29 August to 14 September Sulur AFS Jodhpur AFSExercise Eastern Bridge VIIOmanIndia: MiG-29, Jaguar, C-17 Oman: F-16, Hawk11 - 22 SeptemberRAFO Masirah, OmanJoint Military Training SingaporeIndia: Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000, MiG-29, Jaguar, Tejas Singapore: F-16, F-15, G-550 AEW&C, C-13021 October - 9 DecemberKalaikunda AFS, India2025Exercise INIOCHOS-25Greece (Host), India and 13 other nations Su-30MKI Il-78MKI C-1731 March - 11 AprilAndravida Air Base, GreeceExercise Desert Flag-10UAE (Host), India and 10 other nations MiG-29 Jaguar21 April - 8 MayAl Dhafra Air Base, UAEExercise AakramanIndiaLate AprilExercise Tiger ClawUnited States(Special Forces exercise)26 May - 10 JuneGarud Regimental Training Centre (GRTC), Chandigarh Air Force StationExercise Ocean Sky 2025Spain (Host), India and other nations20 - 31 OctoberGando Air Base, SpainGaruda VIIIFrance 6 Su-30MKI 3 C-17 1 Il-78MKI16 – 27 NovemberMont-de-Marsan Air Base, FranceAviaIndraRussia Su-30MKI Tejas Il-78MKI Mi-1715 – 22 DecemberIndia2026Indo Thai In-situ ExerciseIndia and Thailand Su-30MKI Il-78MKI9 - 12 FebruaryIndian Ocean RegionExercise included IAF AWACS and Thai Gripen and Ground Control Interception (GCI).Vayushakti 26—77 fighter aircraft, 43 helicopters and eight transport aircraft, with 277 weapons and 12,000 kg of explosives. Fighter jets – Tejas, Rafale, Mirage 2000, MiG-29, Su-30 MKI, Jaguar, Hawk Transport aircraft – C-130J, C-295, C-17 Helicopter – Prachand, Rudra, Chinook, Apache, Mi-17 Surface to Air Missiles – Akash, SPYDER Short Range Loitering Munitions (SRLM), Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (CUAS)27 FebruaryPokhran Air-to-Ground Range, Jaisalmer, IndiaMotto: "Achook, Abhedya aur Sateek". The exercise will be undertaken during day, dusk and night.Pitch BlackAustralia (Host), India and 18 other nations>120 personnel 4 Dassault Rafale 1 Ilyushin IL-78 MKI 2 Boeing C-17 Globemaster III20 July – 7 AugustDarwin Air Force Base, AustraliaExercise Udara ShaktiMalaysiaSubang, MalaysiaThe RMAF had deployed Su-30MKM and F/A-18 Hornet aircraft.Veer GuardianJapan Tejas Su-30MKI Rafale9 – 22 SeptemberJodhpur Air Force Station, IndiaJASDF deployed the F-2A fighters.Tarang Shakti India (Host), Australia, Bangladesh, France, Germany, Greece, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates26 September – 12 October
See also
List of exercises of the Indian Army List of Indian Naval deployments Exercise TROPEX
References