The 7th edition of the India-France joint military exercise ‘Shakti’ kicks off today with a fully developed and modern Foreign Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya. Thierry Mathou, the Ambassador of France to India, and Major General Prasanna Sudhakar Joshi, the General Officer Commanding 51 Sub Area, attended the opening ceremony. Exercise SHAKTI is a biennial training event conducted alternately in India and France. The last edition was held in France in November 2021. The exercise is scheduled for 13th to 26th May.
Exercise SHAKTI aims to enhance the joint military capability of both sides in undertaking multi-domain operations in a sub-conventional scenario under Chapter VII of the United Nations Mandate. The joint exercise will focus on operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain. According to an Indian army statement, the objectives of the joint training are a high degree of physical fitness, rehearsing and refining drills for tactical operations, and sharing best practices.
A group of 90 Indian personnel, consisting mainly of a Battalion from the RAJPUT Regiment, along with some other arms and services, are participating in the exercise. Observers from the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force will also be present. On the other hand, the French contingent will comprise 90 personnel, primarily from the 13th Foreign Legion Half-Brigade (13th DBLE).
The statement stated that various tactical drills would be practised as part of the exercise. These drills will cover a range of scenarios, including responding to a terrorist action involving capturing a specific area, setting up a joint command post, creating an intelligence and surveillance centre, securing a helipad or landing site, conducting small team insertion and extraction, undertaking special heliborne operations, and carrying out cordon and search operations. Additionally, drones and counter-drone systems will be employed.
The Exercise SHAKTI is aimed at promoting the exchange of best practices in conducting joint operations between the two countries. This joint exercise will help develop a better understanding, camaraderie, and inter-operability between the armed forces of both nations. Such cooperation will further strengthen bilateral relations and promote enhanced defence relations between the two friendly countries, hoped Indian Army.
Team BharatShakti
