CONTENTS

1. Exercise Udara Shakti
2. Exercise Mitra Shakti

Exercise Udara Shakti

Context:

Recently, the Indian Air Force and Royal Malaysian Air Force participated in Exercise Udara Shakti 2024.

Relevance:

GS III: Security Challenges

Exercise Udara Shakti:

• Joint air exercise with the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).
• Conducted at Kuantan, Malaysia.
• Objective: To enhance operational efficiency, with a focus on sharing maintenance practices between the air forces.
• Featured air combat missions involving IAF’s Su-30MKI and RMAF’s Su-30MKM fighter jets, aimed at improving interoperability, commonality, and effectiveness in aircraft operations.

Sukhoi Su-30MKI

• It is a Multirole combat fighter aircraft.
• Jointly developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) specifically for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
• Design Base: Derived from the Su-30 fighter aircraft.
• Features: Equipped with advanced thrust vectoring control and canards to enhance its maneuverability and combat capabilities.

Exercise Mitra Shakti

Context:

The Indian Army and the Sri Lankan Army will kick off their joint exercise, “Mitra Shakti,” at Maduruoya in Sri Lanka’s Southern Province.

Relevance:

GS III: Security Challenges

Exercise Mitra Shakti:

• A joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the Sri Lankan Army.
• The 10th edition of the exercise.
• 120 soldiers from the Indian Army’s Rajputana Rifles.
• Focus: Emphasizes joint operations in semi-urban environments, under the guidelines of Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, focusing on peace and security threats.
• Goals: Enhance operational proficiency through skill and experience exchange, and prepare for contemporary security challenges like counter-terrorism and urban warfare.
• Significance: Strengthens defense ties and improves coordination, promoting interoperability and cooperation between the Indian and Sri Lankan armed forces.