Exercise Garuda Shakti: 11th India-Indonesia Drill Begins

The eleventh edition of Exercise Garuda Shakti, the joint special forces exercise of India and Indonesia, has begun at Banyuwangi in Indonesia. The drill is scheduled from 27 October to 06 November 2026 and brings the elite units of the two armies together for a sustained spell of field training.

Who is taking part

India is represented by troops of the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), the Indian Army’s airborne special operations arm. The host side has fielded personnel of the Indonesian Special Forces. Both contingents train side by side rather than in separate camps, which is what gives the exercise its value.

What the exercise is for

The stated aim is to deepen mutual understanding, strengthen cooperation and raise interoperability between the special forces of the two countries. Interoperability matters because special operations are usually mounted at short notice by small teams, and soldiers from two different armies can work as one group only if their drills, signals and habits are familiar to each other.

What the troops are practising

The training is centred on the tactics, techniques and procedures of special operations in jungle terrain, a setting both armies know well. The schedule covers:

• obstacle crossing and mountaineering;
• combat marksmanship;
• air assault training, in keeping with the airborne role of the Indian contingent;
• combat-hardening sessions that build physical and mental endurance.

Alongside the field work, the two sides are exchanging expertise and information on weapons, equipment and the operational practices each army follows.

How it will close

The joint training will end with a validation exercise. This final phase is built to simulate realistic operational situations and to measure the endurance, coordination and combat readiness that the two contingents have developed together. Beyond the military gains, the exercise is expected to add to defence cooperation and to the wider bilateral relationship between India and Indonesia.