India’s Joint Defence Exercises (2021–2026): Power, Partnerships, Challenges & Strategic Impact. Explore India’s joint defence exercises with global partners (2021–2026) including dates, locations, objectives and strategic significance for Competitive Exams
I. Joint Defence Exercises (2021–2026): India
Introduction
Between 2021 and 2026, India conducted 50+ bilateral and multilateral joint defence exercises annually, covering Army, Navy, Air Force, and Tri-Service domains. Explore India’s joint defence exercises with global partners (2021–2026) including dates, locations, objectives and strategic significance
These exercises aimed to:
- Enhance interoperability and jointness
- Improve counter-terrorism and sub-conventional warfare skills
- Strengthen Indo-Pacific security architecture
- Deepen strategic partnerships with major powers and neighbours
The focus increasingly shifted toward tri-service coordination, maritime security, and high-intensity combat scenarios, aligned with India’s evolving threat environment.
II. Major Strategic Partners & Flagship Exercises
- United States: Yudh Abhyas, Vajra Prahar, Red Flag
- Russia: Indra, Zapad
- France: Varuna, Garuda, Shakti
- UK: Konkan, Ajeya Warrior
- UAE & Egypt: Desert Cyclone, Cyclone
- Neighbourhood: Surya Kiran (Nepal), SLINEX (Sri Lanka), Ekuverin (Maldives)
- Multilateral/Quad: Malabar, Tarang Shakti, Trishul
III. Service-Wise Classification of Joint Exercises
1. Army & Multi-Service Exercises
| Exercise | Partner(s) | Focus Area |
| Vajra Prahar | USA | Special forces & counter-terrorism |
| Yudh Abhyas | USA | Integrated combat operations |
| Ajeya Warrior | UK | Infantry combat & joint planning |
| Surya Kiran | Nepal | Counter-terror & mountain warfare |
| Lamitiye | Seychelles | Joint planning & peacekeeping |
| Ekuverin | Maldives | Jungle & coastal warfare |
| Cyclone | Egypt | Desert warfare & CT operations |
| AUSINDEX (Land) | Australia | Combined land manoeuvres |
| Khanjar | Kyrgyzstan | Counter-terrorism |
| Nomadic Elephant | Mongolia | Mountain & CT operations |
2. Naval Exercises
| Exercise | Partner(s) | Focus |
| MALABAR | USA, Japan, Australia | Blue-water ops, ASW |
| VARUNA | France | Carrier & fleet operations |
| SIMBEX | Singapore | Maritime interdiction |
| AUSINDEX (Navy) | Australia | Maritime strike & boarding |
| SLINEX | Sri Lanka | Coastal security & SAR |
| Samudra Shakti | Indonesia | Naval cooperation |
| Dosti | Maldives, Sri Lanka | Coast Guard coordination |
| Shield | Sri Lanka, Maldives | Maritime security |
3. Air Force Exercises
| Exercise | Partner(s) | Focus |
| Red Flag | USA | High-intensity air combat |
| Tarang Shakti | Multinational (30 nations) | Large-scale air ops |
| Desert Flag | UAE, USA, UK | Composite air combat |
| Veer Guardian | Japan | Offensive air operations |
| Garuda | France | Multi-domain air dominance |
| Desert Knight | France | Rafale-centric operations |
| Desert Eagle | UAE/France | Air combat & interoperability |
4. Tri-Service / Unified Command Exercises
- Gaganshakti Series: Integrated air-land-sea warfare
- Trishul 2025: Tri-service operations (Andaman & Nicobar)
- Dharma Guardian: India-Japan strategic coordination
- Indra (Tri-Service variants): India-Russia joint operations
- Quad-linked drills: Indo-Pacific maritime & HADR focus
IV. India: Major Joint Defence Exercises (2021–2026)
| Year | Exercise | Partner Country(ies) | Date | Location | Remarks / Focus |
| 2021 | VARUNA | France | May 2021 | Mediterranean Sea / Atlantic | High-end naval exercise; carrier ops, ASW, blue-water interoperability |
| Desert Flag | UAE, USA, UK | March 2021 | Al Dhafra Air Base, UAE | Composite air combat; multinational air force integration | |
| Nomadic Elephant | Mongolia | Oct 2021 | Ulaanbaatar | Counter-terrorism & mountain warfare training | |
| Desert Knight | France | Jan 2021 | Rajasthan | Rafale-centric air combat and deep strike missions | |
| 2022 | Yudh Abhyas | USA | Nov–Dec 2022 | Uttarakhand | Counter-terrorism & high-altitude warfare |
| Samudra Shakti | Indonesia | Nov 2022 | Java Sea | Naval cooperation; surface & ASW operations | |
| Indra | Russia | Dec 2022 | Rajasthan | Tri-service interoperability; mechanised & air ops | |
| Surya Kiran | Nepal | Dec 2022 | Nepal | Counter-terrorism & disaster response | |
| 2023 | Desert Cyclone | UAE | Jan 2023 | Abu Dhabi | Desert warfare & urban CT operations |
| Garuda Shakti | France | Apr 2023 | Meghalaya | Special forces cooperation & jungle warfare | |
| Tarang Shakti | 12+ nations (Phase-I) | Aug–Sep 2023 | Jodhpur | India’s first large-scale multinational air exercise | |
| Khanjar | Kyrgyzstan | Oct 2023 | Kyrgyzstan | Counter-terrorism & special ops training | |
| 2024 | Yudh Abhyas (20th Ed.) | USA | Sep 2024 | Rajasthan | 1,200 troops; integrated combat & CT ops |
| Tarang Shakti (Phase-II) | 30 nations | Sep 2024 | Bengaluru / South India | Largest air exercise hosted by India; coalition air warfare | |
| Nomadic Elephant | Mongolia | Jul 2024 | Mongolia | Mountain warfare & peacekeeping drills | |
| Maitree | Thailand | Jul 2024 | Thailand | Infantry cooperation; jungle & urban ops |
| Year | Exercise | Partner Country(ies) | Date | Location | Remarks / Focus |
| 2025 | AUSTRAHIND | Australia | Mar 2025 | Perth, Australia | Infantry manoeuvres; urban combat & interoperability |
| Zapad | Russia (Observer) | Sep 2025 | Belarus / Russia | Large-scale tri-service drill; India participated as observer contingent | |
| Yudh Abhyas (21st Ed.) | USA | Oct 2025 | Alaska, USA | High-altitude & cold-weather counter-terror ops | |
| Shakti | France | Nov 2025 | France | Tri-service coordination; conventional & sub-conventional warfare | |
| Cyclone | Egypt | Feb 2025 | Rajasthan | Desert warfare; counter-terror operations | |
| Desert Cyclone II | UAE | Dec 2025 | Abu Dhabi | Urban combat & special forces interoperability | |
| Harimau Shakti (5th Ed.) | Malaysia | Dec 2025 | Rajasthan | Sub-conventional ops; jungle & semi-urban warfare | |
| Surya Kiran (18th Ed.) | Nepal | Nov–Dec 2025 | Nepal | Mountain warfare; disaster response | |
| VARUNA (23rd Ed.) | France | Apr 2025 | Arabian Sea | Advanced naval warfare; carrier battle groups | |
| SLINEX | Sri Lanka | Oct 2025 | Colombo | Coastal security, SAR & maritime cooperation | |
| 2026 | Desert Cyclone (Follow-up) | UAE | Jan 2026 | UAE | Continuation of desert CT & urban ops |
| Quad TTX | USA, Japan, Australia | Feb–Mar 2026 | Indo-Pacific | Table-top exercises on maritime security & HADR | |
| MALABAR (Planned) | QUAD | Mid-2026 | Indian Ocean | Blue-water ops, ASW & carrier coordination | |
| Gaganshakti (Planned) | Tri-service | 2026 | Pan-India | Theatre-command readiness & joint war-fighting |
V. Strategic Significance of Joint Exercises
1. Military Preparedness
- Enhances joint war-fighting capability across domains
- Familiarises forces with diverse terrains & doctrines
2. Interoperability & Jointness
- Improves command-and-control integration
- Supports theatre-command concept
3. Defence Diplomacy
- Strengthens partnerships with US, France, Russia, Quad & neighbours
- Positions India as a net security provider in the IOR
4. Strategic Signalling
- Exercises near borders & seas act as deterrence signals
- Reinforces India’s Indo-Pacific commitment
Conclusion
India’s joint defence exercises from 2021–2025 reflect a decisive shift toward multi-domain readiness, coalition warfare, and strategic outreach. By combining bilateral depth with multilateral breadth, India has significantly enhanced its operational capability, diplomatic leverage, and regional security role.
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