PRESS RELEASE : Royal Air Force takes to Indian skies to participate in exercise Tarang Shakti [August 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 August 2024.

The Royal Air Force (RAF) will join the Indian Air Force (IAF) and counterparts from Germany, Spain, and France in the first phase of the IAF’s maiden multilateral exercise Tarang Shakti today (6 August).

The RAF contingent comprising 130 personnel, six Eurofighter Typhoons, two A330 Voyager air to air refuellers and an A-400M military transport aircraft arrived at Sulur Air Force Station in Tamil Nadu.

The exercise provides an excellent opportunity for the RAF to work closely with the IAF alongside other nations in a more challenging multilateral environment, significantly enhancing interoperability and sharing best practice.

Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India, said:

I congratulate the Indian Air Force on organising its first multilateral air exercise, Tarang Shakti, and am delighted that the Royal Air Force is one of the key participants.

Our cooperation in security and defence extends across the seas, land, and air. It is crucial that our armed forces work together to preserve stability and enhance prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

Group Captain Neil Jones, Air Adviser, British High Commission, said:

Exercise Tarang Shakti adds to a significant milestone in the ongoing relationship between the air forces of our two countries. Training in a multilateral environment provides a unique exposure to new challenges as well as integration of our tactics and skills across all specialisations.

For the Royal Air Force, it also demonstrates our ability to deploy and sustain air operations over great distances and maintain an effective presence in the Indo-Pacific, whilst working with partner nations; it is a pleasure for us to be here.

Further information

• the six Typhoons from XI (Fighter) Squadron, from RAF Coningsby arrived in India after participating in Exercise Pitch Black in Australia, where they operated alongside the IAF
• the RAF and Indian Navy’s P8I aircraft flew together for the first-time during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) in July 2024. Both nations deployed the P8I maritime patrol aircraft to Hawaii for the largest maritime training exercise in the region
• in March 2023, the IAF debuted at RAF’s multilateral Exercise Cobra Warrior, organised at Waddington Air Base in the UK