India-France joint military exercise Shakti

Recently, the 7th edition of India-France joint military exercise SHAKTI was launched at a fully developed and modern foreign training node in Meghalaya.

Main points of military Shakti exercise

• This exercise will be conducted from 13 to 26 May 2024.
• The inaugural ceremony of the joint exercise was attended by His Excellency Thierry Mathew, Ambassador of France to India and Major General Prasanna Sudhakar Joshi, General Officer Commanding 51 Sub Area.
• India’s 90-personnel contingent is being represented by a battalion of the Rajput Regiment and personnel from other services.
• The French contingent of 90 personnel will be represented by personnel from the 13th Foreign Legion Half-Brigade (13th DBLE).
• The joint exercise will focus on operations in semi-urban and hilly areas.
• The tactical drills practiced during this exercise include countering terrorist action of occupying a designated area, setting up a joint command post, setting up an intelligence and surveillance centre, securing a helipad/landing site, small Team insertion and extraction, special heliborne operations, cordon and search operations as well as use of drones and counter drone systems.
• This exercise will enable both the countries to share strategies, techniques and procedures to conduct joint operations.
• The joint exercise will help in promoting interoperability, camaraderie and civility between the personnel of the armed forces of both the countries.
• This exercise will increase the level of defense cooperation between the two countries and boost bilateral relations.

About this exercise

• It is a biennial training program conducted in India and France.
• Its 6th edition was held in France in November 2021.
• The main objective of Exercise Shakti is to enhance the joint military capability of both sides for diverse field operations in sub-conventional scenario under Chapter VII of the United Nations Mandate.

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