By adbnu564 Australia’s Royal Australian Air Force has made its debut aircraft deployment to India for the multinational Exercise Tarang Shakti 24, marking a significant step in defense cooperation between the two nations. The exercise is being held at Air Force Station Jodhpur from August 30 to September 13, and includes participation from Australia, Greece, Sri Lanka, UAE, Japan, Singapore, and the United States.
For this exercise, Australia has deployed three EA-18G Growler aircraft from No 6 Squadron, supported by up to 120 personnel. This marks Australia’s first involvement in Exercise Tarang Shakti, which is India’s largest multilateral air exercise.
This exercise is notable as it involves 11 participating nations and 18 observer nations, reflecting its broad international engagement. Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Stephen Chappell emphasized that Australia’s participation underlines its commitment to supporting regional partners and fostering international cooperation to tackle shared security challenges.
Air Marshal Chappell also noted that participating in such exercises highlights Australia’s advanced capabilities, enhances interoperability with foreign militaries, and fosters mutual understanding of tactical operations. The exercise aims to improve the readiness and adaptability of participating forces in response to emerging threats in the Indo-Pacific region.
Australia and India have a history of enhanced air defense cooperation, including joint activities such as Exercise Pitch Black, which featured Indian Air Force Flankers in 2018, 2022, and 2024. The two countries have also collaborated on training and engagement with Indian Navy P-8I Neptune surveillance aircraft.
The Australian Defence Department reaffirmed its commitment to deepening defense cooperation with India, reflecting a shared vision for Indo-Pacific stability and security. The first phase of Exercise Tarang Shakti, held in Tamil Nadu earlier in August, involved the air forces of Germany, France, Spain, and the UK.
Australia’s involvement in the second phase of the exercise in Jodhpur represents a significant enhancement of defense relations between the two nations, demonstrating a shared dedication to addressing regional security challenges and promoting international military cooperation.