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The Indian Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Air Force began the bilateral air exercise Udara Shakti 2026 on 10 August 2026 at Subang Air Base, Malaysia, running to 14 August 2026.
The exercise was inaugurated at the Air Warfare Centre by RMAF Exercise Director Colonel Shamsul Shahreen bin Isa and IAF Exercise Director Group Captain Parijat Jha, with Indian Defence Adviser Colonel Praveen Sukumaran present.
It involves 83 personnel and 11 aircraft: four IAF Rafales of No. 101 Squadron and two C-17 Globemaster III transports of No. 81 Squadron, against two RMAF Su-30MKMs, two F/A-18Ds and one A400M.
This is the Rafale's first participation in Udara Shakti since its induction into the IAF in 2020.
Training covered dissimilar air combat manoeuvring, air-to-air refuelling and strategic airlift, with Subject Matter Expert Exchanges continuing through the flying phase.
Interoperability is the ability of military units from different countries to operate together using compatible procedures, communication systems and tactics. Exercises like Udara Shakti test it in the hardest setting - dissimilar air combat, where aircraft of different origin, radar and weapon profiles fly against each other, plus air-to-air refuelling and strategic airlift, where timing errors are unforgiving. The Subject Matter Expert Exchange component runs alongside the flying, letting engineers and aircrew compare maintenance practices, safety procedures and operational doctrine.
Simple Analogy: Two orchestras that have each rehearsed alone can only play together if they agree on tempo, notation and cues. A joint exercise is that shared rehearsal, held before any performance is required.
India and Malaysia establish an Enhanced Strategic Partnership.
The first edition of the air exercise, staging frontline Sukhoi-30 aircraft, is conducted.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's state visit to India elevates ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Udara Shakti 2024 is held at the RMAF base in Kuantan, Malaysia, with IAF Su-30MKI fighters taking part.
The 4th edition of the India-Malaysia joint army exercise Harimau Shakti is held at Bentong camp, Pahang, Malaysia.
The 5th edition of Harimau Shakti is held at Mahajan Field Firing Range, Rajasthan.
Udara Shakti 2026 at Subang Air Base, with the Rafale participating for the first time.
Current Affairs > Joint Military Exercises and Defence Cooperation
General Awareness > Defence Exercises and Current Affairs
GS Paper 2 > India and its Neighbourhood, bilateral and regional groupings; GS Paper 3 > Security
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The bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Air Force; 'udara' means air in Malay.
Air combat practice flown against aircraft of a different type and origin, reproducing the uncertainty of a real adversary.
A structured exchange in which specialists from two forces compare procedures, tactics and maintenance practice.
The highest tier of India's bilateral partnership framework; India and Malaysia reached it in August 2024.