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Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 Flying Phase Opens at Jodhpur

The Indian Air Force opened the flying phase of Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 at Jodhpur, a multilateral drill joined by seven friendly foreign air forces.

By Published · 2 min read
Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 Flying Phase Opens at Jodhpur

Why in News

On 27 September 2026 the Indian Air Force began the operational flying phase of Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 at Air Force Station Jodhpur, with contingents from seven friendly foreign countries taking part.

The Indian Air Force has moved Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 into its operational flying phase at Air Force Station Jodhpur, one day after the drill was formally opened. The multilateral air exercise runs from 26 September to 12 October 2026 and has been given the theme Power in Partnership, a line the Air Force uses for the strength that comes from training together, sharing expertise and building the ability to operate as one.

Seven partner air forces

Contingents from seven friendly foreign countries are flying in the exercise: Australia, the United States of America, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Several more air forces are present only as observers, so the reach of the drill goes beyond the nations that brought aircraft with them.

The aircraft on the ramp

The visiting fleet covers combat, airlift and air-to-air refuelling roles together. The fighters include the F-35 Lightning II, the Rafale and the F-16. The heavy and tanker types include the A400M, the MRTT, the C-130 and C-130J, and the KC-30A. Indian crews will fly frontline platforms and support elements alongside them across a spread of missions.

Second edition of a young exercise

Tarang Shakti was flown for the first time in 2024, and this is the second time India is hosting it. For the visiting squadrons the value lies in advanced joint training, in comparing operating procedures and in flight safety practice; for the host it is an occasion to show what the Indian aerospace and defence industry now builds at home.

Not only flying

The programme around the sorties is unusually wide. It takes in a dedicated seminar, an industrial tour for the visiting contingents, the Sekhon Marathon, heritage tours and yoga sessions. The idea is to put aircrew, mission planners and ground support teams together away from the flight line, so that the professional exchange continues after the last aircraft of the day has landed.

Important Facts

ExerciseExercise Tarang Shakti 2026 (second edition)
Conducted byIndian Air Force
VenueAir Force Station Jodhpur
Dates26 September to 12 October 2026
ThemePower in Partnership
Participating countriesAustralia, United States of America, United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh (seven)
First edition2024
Foreign aircraftF-35 Lightning II, Rafale, F-16, A400M, MRTT, C-130, C-130J, KC-30A

Exam Point of View

Remember the force (Indian Air Force), the venue (Air Force Station Jodhpur), the dates (26 September to 12 October 2026), the theme (Power in Partnership), the year of the first edition (2024) and the seven participating countries.

Practice Questions

Q1.DefenceEasy

What is the theme of Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026?

  1. A.Shakti Through the Skies
  2. B.Power in Partnership
  3. C.Partners in Flight
  4. D.Strength in Unity
Show answer

Correct answer: B. Power in Partnership

Explanation

The correct answer is Power in Partnership. This is the declared theme of the second edition of the multilateral air exercise, which the Indian Air Force is conducting from 26 September to 12 October 2026 at Air Force Station Jodhpur. The theme points at the gain that comes from air forces training together, sharing operational expertise and building the ability to work as one force in the air. Option A, Shakti Through the Skies, plays on the name of the exercise but was never announced as its theme. Option C, Partners in Flight, sounds close to the real theme and is exactly the kind of distractor a paper setter uses, yet it is not the wording the Air Force released. Option D, Strength in Unity, is a general slogan and belongs to no edition of this exercise. Candidates should learn the theme along with the venue and the dates, because questions on Indian exercises usually bundle the three together.

Q2.DefenceMedium

At which Air Force Station has the operational flying phase of Tarang Shakti 2026 begun?

  1. A.Gwalior
  2. B.Jamnagar
  3. C.Jodhpur
  4. D.Sulur
Show answer

Correct answer: C. Jodhpur

Explanation

The correct answer is Jodhpur. The flying phase of Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 opened at Air Force Station Jodhpur the day after the inaugural ceremony, and the visiting contingents are operating from there through the exercise window of 26 September to 12 October 2026. Option A, Gwalior, is a well known fighter base and the home of the Tactics and Combat Development Establishment, but it is not the base named for this exercise. Option B, Jamnagar, is a forward base in the western sector and again not the venue announced. Option D, Sulur, lies in the south and hosts different fleets altogether. The pattern to remember is that the base is what gets asked, not the region, so tie the name Jodhpur to Tarang Shakti the way earlier candidates tied Jodhpur and Jaisalmer to other western sector drills.

Q3.DefenceMedium

Which of the following countries is NOT flying a contingent in Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026?

  1. A.Australia
  2. B.Japan
  3. C.Sri Lanka
  4. D.Bangladesh
Show answer

Correct answer: B. Japan

Explanation

The correct answer is Japan. Seven friendly foreign countries have sent flying contingents to Tarang Shakti 2026, and the list is Australia, the United States of America, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Japan does not appear on that list, so it is the odd one out here. Option A, Australia, is on the list and has brought aircraft to Jodhpur. Option C, Sri Lanka, is also on the list and its presence marks the neighbourhood reach of the exercise. Option D, Bangladesh, is likewise among the seven. Aspirants should note that several other air forces are attending only as observers, which is a separate category from the seven that are flying, and examiners like to test exactly that distinction between a participant and an observer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the theme of Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026?

Power in Partnership. The multilateral air exercise is being held from 26 September to 12 October 2026 at Air Force Station Jodhpur, and the operational flying phase opened a day after the inaugural ceremony.

Which countries are taking part in Tarang Shakti 2026?

Seven friendly foreign countries have sent contingents: Australia, the United States of America, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Several other air forces are attending as observers.

When was the first edition of Tarang Shakti held?

In 2024. Tarang Shakti 2026 is the second edition, and its flying phase began at Air Force Station Jodhpur with foreign fighters, transport aircraft and tankers on the ramp.

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