Major Military Exercises of India

• 10 Jul 2024

For Prelims: Joint Exercise, Indian Army, Counter Terrorist operations, Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief, UN Peacekeeping, High Altitude operations, Desert Warfare, Urban Warfare and Jungle Warfare, Grey Zone Warfare

For Mains: Significance of Military Exercises in Bilateral and Multilateral Relations

Source: PIB

Why in News?

Recently, the 16th edition of India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT commenced at Foreign Training Node, Umroi (Meghalaya).

What are the Major Joint Exercises Conducted by the Indian Army?

• About:
  • Joint Exercises are the flagship events of defence cooperation showcasing the Indian Army's professional competence in various operational scenarios and providing an opportunity for the participants to learn best practices. 
  • The scope of joint exercises is realistic and diversified including Counter Terrorist operations, Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief, UN Peacekeeping, High Altitude operations, Desert Warfare, Urban Warfare, and Jungle Warfare. 
  • The complexity of scope is increased by adding the latest practices in warfighting and realistic situations like Drone Warfare, Grey Zone Warfare, etc.
• Joint Exercises:

Country	Exercise
Australia	Ex AUSTRA HINDBAH
Bangladesh	Ex SAMPRITI
China	Ex HAND IN HAND
France	Ex SHAKTI
Indonesia	Ex GARUDA SHAKTI
Kazakhstan	Ex PRABAL DOSTYKK
Kyrgyzstan	Ex KHANJAR
Maldives	Ex EKUVERIN
Mongolia	Ex NOMADIC ELEPHANT
Myanmar	IMBEX
Nepal	Ex SURYA KIRAN
Oman	AL NAGAH
Russia	Ex INDRA
Seychelles	Ex LAMITIYE
Sri Lanka	Ex MITRA SHAKTI
Thailand	Ex MAITREE
UK	Ex AJEYA WARRIOR
USA	Ex YUDHABHAYAS
USA	Ex VAJRA PRAHAR

What are the Joint Exercises Conducted by the Indian Navy?

• Joint Exercises:

Exercise	Countries
MALABAR	India, USA, Japan, Australia
Varuna	India, France
La Perouse	India, Australia, United States, France, Japan, and United Kingdom
Sea Dragon	India, USA, Japan, Canada, South Korea
Konkan	India, UK
AIME & IMDEX	India, ASEAN Countries
Bright Star	India, 34 Countries
SALVEX	India, USA
SLINEX	India, Sri Lanka
Samudra Shakti	India, Indonesia
Al-Mohed Al-Hindi	India, Saudi Arabia
India - France - UAE trilateral exercise	India, France, UAE
India - France - UAE trilateral PASSEX	India, France, UAE
KOMODO	India, Multiple (36 Countries)
AUSINDEX	India, Australia
SIMBEX	India, Singapore

• Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) & Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations:

Operation Name	Description	Location
Operation Kaveri	Evacuation of Indian nationals from Sudan	Red Sea
Operation Karuna	Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to Myanmar (post-Cyclone Mocha)	Yangon, Myanmar
Brahmapuram Firefighting Assistance	Assisted local authorities in firefighting efforts in Brahmapuram solid waste treatment plant	Kochi, India

What are the Major Exercises Conducted by the Air Force?

• Joint Exercises:

Exercise Name	Description	Location
Ex Veer Guardian	First Air Exercise between India and Japan	-
Ex PASSEX with France	Joint exercise with French fighter aircraft	Indian Ocean Region
Ex Desert Flag-8 in UAE	First participation of Tejas in an international air exercise	Al-Dhafra, UAE
Ex Cobra Warrior	Multinational Air Exercise	UK
Ex Cope India	Joint exercise of India with USAF and Japan (observor)	AFS Kalaikunda & Panagarh, India
Ex Orion	Multinational exercise	France
Ex INIOCHOS	First Air Exercise between India and Greece	Greece
Ex Bright Star	Joint exercise with Egypt	Egypt

• Integrated Exercises With Sister Services:

Exercise Name	Description
Ex Kranti Mahotsav	01 Multi-Role Helicopter (MLH)
Ex Chakra Drishti	Fighter aircraft, Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), and Airborne Early Warning & Control System (AEW&C)
Western Command Theatre	Helicopters, Transport aircraft, RPA, and Fighter aircraft
Long-Range Maritime Strike	Fighters, Transport aircraft, and AWACS (Airborne Warning And Control System)
MiG-29K Detachment at AFS Naliya	Joint detachment with Indian Navy's MiG-29K fighters

• Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief:

Operation Name	Location	Description
Op Dost - Turkiye and Syria	Turkiye, Syria	Earthquake relief
Op Kaveri - Sudan	Sudan	Evacuation of Indian citizens
Op Ajay (Israel – Hamas Conflict)	Israel, Gaza	Medical and disaster relief

What are the Advantages of the Military Exercises?

• Enhanced Interoperability: Exercises foster the development of shared tactical languages and cultural understanding between soldiers. Successful multinational operations rely not just on technical compatibility but on cohesive teams that can anticipate and adapt to each other's actions.

• Knowledge Exchange: Exercises like NATO's Defender series have fostered a "Collaborative Innovation Environment" where militaries co-develop solutions to real-world problems. This fosters a culture of joint creativity and speeds up technological advancements.

• Diplomatic Relations: Military exercises serve as a form of defence diplomacy, strengthening political ties between participating nations. 

  • For example, the Malabar naval exercises have not only improved interoperability but also served as a confidence-building measure, signaling a united front against regional challenges.

• Capability Assessment: Exercises can reveal underlying structural issues within militaries. 

  • A 2022 RAND Corporation report highlights how a recent US-allied exercise exposed communication gaps between special operation forces and conventional units leading to a significant restructuring of communication protocols within the US military.

• Deterrence: Joint exercises signal military readiness and alliance strength to potential adversaries. 

  • For example, the Russo-Belarusian exercises preceding the invasion of Ukraine not only showcased military might but also served as a form of psychological warfare, potentially intended to intimidate Ukraine and the West.

• Humanitarian Assistance Preparation: Many exercises now incorporate real-world complexities like civilian participation and media presence. 

  • The UN's 2023 World Humanitarian Data Report emphasises the need for improved interagency coordination during humanitarian crises. Exercises that involve civilian aid organisations can bridge these gaps.

Drishti Mains Question:

Q. Evaluate the role of bilateral and multilateral exercises in enhancing strategic cooperation and mutual trust among participating nations.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims:

Q. Which one of the following statements best reflects the issue with Senkaku Islands, sometimes mentioned in the news?

(a) It is generally believed that they are artificial islands made by a country around South China Sea.

(b) China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in East China Sea.

(c) A permanent American military base has been set up there to help Taiwan to increase its defence capabilities.

(d) Though International Court of Justice declared them as no man’s land, some South-East Asian countries claim them.

Ans: (b)