Exercise Tarang Shakti - India's First Multinational Air Exercise

Introduction to Exercise Tarang Shakti

- Exercise Tarang Shakti is a multinational air exercise scheduled to be held in India in two phases, starting from the next month. 

- It will take place in Sular, Tamil Nadu, marking this as India's first multinational air exercise. 

- This exercise is the Indian Air Force's (IAF) largest multilateral exercise, which leads to its immense significance.

Purpose and Participation 

- The primary aim of conducting ‘Tarang Shakti 2024’ is to showcase India’s defence capabilities on a global stage. 

- It is designed to enhance cooperation among the participating militaries, fostering a spirit of international relations. 

- The exercise will feature around 30 participating countries, out of which 10 countries will participate with their fighter aircraft.

- The ten countries include Australia, Bangladesh, France, Germany, Greece, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the USA, and Singapore. 

Observer Nations and Program Features 

- Along with the participating countries, 18 other countries will be present as observers. This will further boost the international visibility of the exercise.

- The exercise will not only feature flying and ground training but also hold defence exhibitions and cultural exchange programs. 

- The itinerary also includes visits to Indian tech companies by defence personnel from various participating countries.

Display of India's Indigenous Defence Capabilities 

- India is aimed at showcasing its indigenous fighter aircraft and equipment during this exercise. 

- The demonstration will include Tejas, Rafale, Mirage 2000, Jaguar, and MIG 29. 

Relevance in Current Affairs and General Knowledge

- This event comes across as an important development in India's defence and international relations domain. 

- It can be seen as a diplomatic effort by India to strengthen its strategic relations globally.

- As India’s first multinational air exercise, this event has a strategic significance and adds value to the country's national security objectives.