To enhance preparedness and collaboration, the Indian Armed Forces conduct several military exercises and this time, the Indian Air Force or IAF is conducting the second edition of Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026. This is a multinational air exercise that seeks to train all the participating forces towards cooperation.
Today, we tell you about Exercise Tarang Shakti, the aircraft participating in it, and why it matters to India.
What is Tarang Shakti 2026?
Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 is an IAF-led multinational air exercise. It was first conducted in 2024 and brings several partner countries together so that the personnel such as aircrew, mission planners and and others can better understand the challenges of multinational missions.
The second edition of the exercise began on 26 September, 2026, at Air Force Station Jodhpur and will continue till October 12. This year, the theme is, “Power in Partnership,” which symbolizes the increasing role of interoperability, professional exchange and mutual learning. Also, a total of seven foreign partners are participating in Tarang Shakti 2026:
- Australia
- The United States
- The United Arab Emirates
- France
- Germany
- Sri Lanka
- Bangladesh
Additionally, 32 countries are attending the exercise as observers. Hence, there are a total of 40 participants including India this year.
Aircraft in Tarang Shakti 2026
When the topic is “Air Force” you cannot miss out on the diverse aircraft equipped with state-of-the-art technology that are participating in Tarang Shakti 2026. According to the Ministry of Defence, the list of foreign aircraft participating this year includes:
- Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II of the US
- Dassault Rafale of France
- General Dynamics F-16 of the UAE
- KC-30 A air-to-air refueling tanker of Australia
- MRTT refueling aircraft
- A400M airlifters
- C-130 and C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft
This unique mix of aircraft signifies that the way air combat is perceived is changing from fighter aircraft alone to refueling tankers, airlifters, and transport aircraft. This will allow all nations to understand how they can combine these for their operational needs.
Relevance of Tarang Shakti 2026
But, what is the relevance of a multilateral exercise like Tarang Shakti 2026 when the IAF could have conducted bilateral exercises too? Let us tell you that the relevance goes way beyond what appears on the surface as aircraft flying in the sky.
We all understand that the nature of warfare is changing. Gone are the days when being an air power was focused on dogfights between aircraft alone. Today, the landscape is increasingly involving capabilities such as refueling, and integrated operations between the different elements of the air force. This is where Tarang Shakti 2026 comes to the picture.
Such a multinational military exercise allows participating air forces to put their capabilities to the test, understand how each element works during operations, and identify the possible challenges involved.
At the same time, India also benefits significantly by hosting Tarang Shakti 2026 in the following ways:
- Strengthening defence relations with other air powers
- Providing exposure to multilateral cooperation and collaboration
- Positioning India as a viable defence partner
- Preparing the Indian Air Force for future operational needs
The very theme, “Power in Partnership,” also symbolizes this vision. Hence, the idea is to turn cooperation into a strength and make our forces future-ready.
Final Thoughts
Tarang Shakti 2026 symbolizes the Indian Air Force’s emerging role in multinational air operations as well as its growing emphasis on interoperability with partners. The exercise brings advanced fighter jet, transport aircraft, aerial refuellers and experienced aircrew from several partner countries and helps them develop operational experience.
Hence, Tarang Shakti 2026 isn’t just a military exercise but a platform to build professional relationships and assess one’s capabilities in a changing global landscape.
