India-Japan Ex Dharma Guardian held in Japan
The 4th edition of joint military exercise, DHARMA GUARDIAN, between India and Japan was conducted at Camp Imazu in Shiga province, Japan from 17 Feb to 2 March 2023. It is an annual training event with Japan and scope of the exercise covers platoon level joint training on operations in jungle and semi urban/urban terrain. Troops of the Garhwal Rifles Regiment and an Infantry Regiment from the Middle Army of the Japan Ground Self Defence Force (JGSDF) participated in the exercise to share experiences gained during operations in order to enhance inter-operability in planning & execution. During the exercise, participants engaged in a variety of missions ranging from joint planning, joint tactical drills, basics of establishing integrated surveillance grids, including employment of aerial assets.
India-Japan Exercise Shinyuu Maitri
The Indian Air Force (IAF) participated in Exercise Shinyuu Maitri with the Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) from 13 Feb to 2 Mar 2023 at Komatsu, Japan. The IAF contingent fielded one C-17 Globemaster III aircraft which participated in flying drills with JASDF C-2 transport aircraft. The exercise enhanced mutual understanding and interoperability between the IAF and the JASDF.
International Exercise Cutlass Express 23
INS Trikand participated in the International Maritime Exercise/ Cutlass Express 2023 (IMX/CE-23) held in the Gulf region from 26 Feb to 16 Mar 2023. She exercised with participants from over 50 nations and international maritime agencies with the common aim of enhancing maritime security and keeping sea lanes in the region safe for maritime commerce. IMX/CE-23 is one of the largest multinational maritime exercises in the world. While this was the Indian Navy’s maiden IMX participation, it also marked the second occasion where an Indian Naval ship participated in an exercise conducted by the CMF. Participation in such exercises enables the Indian Navy to strengthen relationships and enhance interoperability and collective maritime capability with maritime partners in the IOR.
International Exercise Desert Flag VIII in UAE
An IAF contingent comprising of 110 Air Warriors participated in Exercise Desert Flag VIII at Al Dhafra airbase of United Arab Emirates with five LCA Tejas and two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft from 27 Feb to 17 Mar 2023. This was the first occasion when the LCA Tejas participated in an international flying exercise outside India. Exercise Desert Flag was a multilateral air exercise in which Air Forces from UAE, France, Kuwait, Australia, UK, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain, Republic of Korea, and USA participated. The aim of the exercise was to participate in diverse fighter engagements and learn from the best practices of various Air Forces.
Multinational Exercise Cobra Warrior in UK
An IAF contingent comprising 145 Air Warriors with five Mirage 2000 fighters, two C-17 Globemaster III and an IL-78 mid air refueller aircraft participated in Exercise Cobra Warrior at the Waddington Air Force Base of the Royal Air Force in United Kingdom from 6 Mar to 24 Mar 2023. The exercise is a multilateral air exercise in which Air Forces from Finland, Sweden, South Africa, United States of America and Singapore also participated. The aim of the exercise is to participate in diverse fighter aircraft engagements and learn from the best practices of various Air Forces.
India-Singapore Exercise Bold Kurukshetra
The Singapore Army and Indian Army participated in the 13th edition of Exercise Bold Kurukshetra, a bilateral armour exercise on 6-13 March 2023 at Jodhpur Military Station. For the first time in the exercise series, both armies participated in a command post exercise, which involved Battalion and Brigade level planning elements and computer wargaming. Hosted by the Indian Army, the exercise involved soldiers from the 42nd Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment and an Armoured Brigade of Indian Army. The exercise fostered common understanding of mechanised warfare in emerging threats and evolving technologies, developing inter-operability through a computer simulation-based Wargame using joint operational and tactical procedures controlled through a joint command post.
India-France Maritime Partnership Exercise
Indian Navy’s indigenously built guided missile frigate, INS Sahyadri participated in a Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) with French Navy (FN) ships FS Dixmude, a Mistral Class Amphibious Assault Ship and FS La Fayette, a La Fayette Class Frigate, in the Arabian Sea on 10 – 11 March 2023. The exercise witnessed a wide spectrum of evolutions at sea which included cross deck landings, boarding exercises and seamanship evolutions.
India-France Exercise FRINJEX-2023
The maiden Joint Military Exercise FRINJEX-23 between Indian Army and French Army was conducted at Pangode Military Station, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on 7-8th March 2023. It is for the first time armies of both the nations are engaging in this format with each contingent comprising of a Company Group each from the Thiruvananthapuram based Indian Army troops and French 6th Light Armoured Brigade.
The exercise is aimed at enhancing inter-operability, coordination and cooperation between both forces at tactical level. The scope of the exercise involve establishment and operationalisation of a joint command post to secure an envisaged area for undertaking joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, establishing an Internally Displaced Population (IDP) camp and move of disaster relief material.
India-Japan Maritime Partnership Exercise
Continuing with the conduct of Maritime Partnership Exercises (MPX) with Friendly Foreign Countries, INS Sahyadri exercised with Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) ship JS Suzutsuki, an Akizuki Class Destroyer in the Arabian Sea on 11 March 2023.
The exercise was aimed at consolidating their shared commitment to regional and global security challenges, the exercise witnessed cross deck landings by integral helicopters, tactical manoeuvres and a customary steampast by the ships.
