Exercise Udara Shakti 2026: Key Highlights
Overview
Exercise Udara Shakti is a bilateral air exercise between India and Malaysia aimed at enhancing air combat capabilities, operational interoperability, tactical coordination, and mutual understanding between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).
Participants and Assets Deployed
Indian Air Force (IAF):
- 4 Rafale fighter aircraft (from 101 Squadron)
- 2 C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlift aircraft
Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF):
- Su-30MKM fighter aircraft
- F/A-18D Hornets
- A400M transport aircraft
Venue
Subang Airbase, Malaysia
Key Training Activities
- High-intensity combat sorties
- Dissimilar air combat training (DACT)
- Dissimilar basic fighter manoeuvres (DBFM)
- Air-to-air refuelling operations
Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE)
- Training doctrines
- Integrated operations
- Mission planning
- Maintenance practices
Strategic Significance
Defence Cooperation
- Strengthens India-Malaysia bilateral defence relations
- Enhances operational effectiveness of both air forces
- Enables sharing of best practices and operational experiences
Policy Framework
- Aligned with Act East Policy
- Part of India's Indo-Pacific strategy
- Follows IAF's participation in Exercise Pitch Black 2026 in Australia
- Contributes to regional security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region
Other India-Malaysia Military Exercises
| Exercise | Service | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Samudra Laksamana | Indian Navy | Malaysia |
| Harimau Shakti | Indian Army | Malaysia |
| Udara Shakti | Indian Air Force | Malaysia |
Key Terms to Remember
- DACT (Dissimilar Air Combat Training): Training involving different aircraft types to simulate realistic combat scenarios
- DBFM (Dissimilar Basic Fighter Manoeuvres): Basic aerial combat tactics between different aircraft types
- Act East Policy: India's foreign policy to strengthen economic and strategic relations with the Asia-Pacific region
- Indo-Pacific Strategy: India's approach to security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region
UPSC Relevance
This exercise is relevant for understanding:
- India's defence diplomacy
- Regional security cooperation
- Act East Policy implementation
- Bilateral defence relations with ASEAN countries