India-France Joint Military Exercise SHAKTI

Context

7th edition of India-France Joint Military Exercise SHAKTI commenced on 13th May, at Umroi in Meghalaya.

About India-France Joint Military Exercise SHAKTI

• Biennial Exercise: Exercise Shakti is held every two years, alternating between India and France. The last edition was held in France in November 2021.
• Multi-Domain Operations: The exercise aims to enhance the joint military capabilities of India and France to conduct multi-domain operations in a sub-conventional scenario, adhering to Chapter VII of the UN Mandate.
• Varied Terrain Operations: The focus is on semi-urban and mountainous terrain, challenging the participants to adapt to different environmental conditions.
• Objectives of Exercise Shakti:
  • Physical Fitness and Tactical Drills: The exercise emphasizes achieving a high degree of physical fitness, refining tactical-level operations drills, and sharing best practices between the forces.
  • Practice of Tactical Drills: The exercise includes various tactical responses such as handling terrorist actions, establishing joint command posts and intelligence centers, securing helipads, and employing drones and counter-drone systems.
  • Interoperability and Cooperation: The exercise facilitates the development of interoperability and fosters camaraderie and bonhomie between the armed forces personnel of the two countries.

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Other Defence Exercises between India and France:

• Varuna: Naval exercise
• Desert Knight-21 and Garuda: Air exercise
• Shakti: Army exercise