Military Exercises of India 2024

Military Exercises of India: The 16th edition of the joint military exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT between India and Mongolia recently commenced at the Foreign Training Node, Umroi, in Meghalaya.

About – Military Exercises of India 2024

Joint exercises serve as flagship events in defense cooperation, highlighting the Indian Army’s professional expertise across various operational scenarios. They provide participants with valuable opportunities to exchange and adopt best practices.

These exercises cover a wide and diverse range of scenarios, including Counter-Terrorism operations, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, UN Peacekeeping missions, High-Altitude operations, Desert Warfare, Urban Warfare, and Jungle Warfare.

The scope and complexity of these exercises are continually enhanced by incorporating advanced warfighting techniques and realistic scenarios, such as Drone Warfare and Grey Zone Warfare, ensuring they remain relevant to modern challenges.

Military 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

Indian Navy Exercise

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

Air Force Exercise

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

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

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

Advantages of the Military Exercises

Enhanced Interoperability

Military exercises enhance the ability of soldiers from different nations to work together by developing shared tactical languages and fostering cultural understanding. Successful multinational operations depend not only on technical compatibility but also on cohesive teams that can anticipate and adapt to one another’s actions.

Knowledge Exchange

Exercises such as NATO’s Defender series promote a “Collaborative Innovation Environment,” where militaries co-develop solutions to real-world challenges. This encourages joint creativity and accelerates technological advancements.

Diplomatic Relations

Military exercises act as a tool of defense diplomacy, strengthening political ties among participating nations. For instance, the Malabar naval exercises have not only enhanced interoperability but also served as confidence-building measures, presenting a united front against regional challenges.

Capability Assessment

Exercises can reveal structural issues within militaries, offering an opportunity for improvement. A 2022 RAND Corporation report noted that a US-allied exercise exposed communication gaps between special operation forces and conventional units, leading to significant restructuring of communication protocols within the US military.

Deterrence

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

For example, the Russo-Belarusian exercises conducted before the invasion of Ukraine showcased military capability and acted as psychological warfare, likely aimed at intimidating Ukraine and the West.

Humanitarian Assistance Preparation

Modern exercises often incorporate real-world complexities, including civilian participation and media presence. The UN’s 2023 World Humanitarian Data Report highlights the importance of improved interagency coordination during humanitarian crises. Exercises involving civilian aid organizations help bridge coordination gaps and improve readiness for such scenarios.