Also called War Game is
employment of military
resources in training for military
operations, either exploring the
effects of warfare or testing
strategies without actual combat
Serves the purpose of ensuring
the combat readiness
TYPES OF MILITARY
EXERCISES
India conducts various defence exercises,
including Joint Military Drills, Naval Exercises,
and Air Force Maneuvers. These exercises are
designed to test operational readiness and
interoperability among different branches of the
armed forces.
1. Command Post Exercise
2. Field Training Exercise
3. Joint Exercise
4. Military
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
The Primary Objectives of Defence
Exercises in India are to demonstrate
military capabilities, improve
coordination among armed forces, and
bolster national security. These
exercises also serve as a platform for
knowledge exchange and skill
enhancement.
DEFENCE EXERCISES IN
INDIA
DOMESTIC EXERCISES – Aimed at
improving internal engagements &
enhancing cooperation between the
armed forces.
BILATERAL EXERCISES – Conducted
between two countries to strengthen
bilateral ties and cooperation
MULTILATERAL EXERCISES – Involves
military of more than two countries,
promotes collaboration on larger scale
Domestic Exercises
1. Gandiv Vijay – Indian Army
2. Paschim Lehar – Indian
Navy, Indian Army, Indian
Airforce & CG
3. Vayu Shakti – Indian
Airforce (Triennial)
4. Vijay Prahar – Indian Army
IMPORTANT DEFENCE
EXERCISES
TROPEX-23
• Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise
(TROPEX) is an inter-service military exercise
involving the participation of the Indian Army,
Air Force, Navy and the Coast Guard.
• Carried out in three phrases: independent
workup phase, joint workup phase and tactical
phase
• Beginning in 2005, the exercise has been held
annually, with the exception of 2016 and 2018
• It was held between Nov 22-Mar 23
IMPORTANT DEFENCE
EXERCISES
AUSTRAHIND-23
• The second edition of the Joint Military
Exercise AUSTRAHIND-23 took place in Perth,
Australia, from November 22 to December 6
• Exercise AUSTRAHIND was established in 2022
and the inaugural edition took place in
Mahajan, Rajasthan.
• This year Indian Army contingent had 60
personnel from Gorkha Regiment, one officer
of Indian Navy and 20 personnel from Indian
Air Force
IMPORTANT DEFENCE
EXERCISES
VAJRA PRAHAR 23
• The 14th edition of the Joint Military Exercise
VAJRA PRAHAR 2023 took place in Umroi,
Meghalaya.
• Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR is conducted between
special forces of Indian Army and the US Army.
• Initiated in 2010, the 13th edition was
conducted at Special Forces Training School in
Himachal Pradesh’s Bakloh
IMPORTANT DEFENCE
EXERCISES
MITRA SHAKTI -2023
• The 9th edition of the Joint Military Exercise
MITRA SHAKTI 2023 took place in Aundh,
Pune.
• Exercise MITRA SHAKTI is conducted between
the Sri Lankan and Indian armed forces.
• The Indian forces comprised of troops from
Maratha Light Infantry and 15 members of
Indian Air Force
• The scope of exercise include – Counter-
Terrorist Ops & Specialized Training
IMPORTANT DEFENCE
EXERCISES
CORPAT & BONGOSAGAR
• The Indian and Bangladesh navies successfully
conducted 4th edition of BONGOSAGAR -23
and 5th edition of Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT)
in northern Bay of Bengal.
• Indian Navy Ships Kuthar and Kiltan, along with
Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) Dornier,
participated in the exercises.
• A significant aspect of CORPAT 23 was the
maiden HADR (Humanitarian Assistance &
Disaster Relief) drills conducted
IMPORTANT DEFENCE
EXERCISES
KAZIND 2023
• A contingent of 120 personnel from Indian
Army and Indian Air Force participated in 7th
ediction of KAZIND -23 in Otar, Kazakhstan.
• Indian Army was represented by a battalion of
DOGRA regiment.
• Originally instituted as “Exercise PRABAL
DOST” in 2016 and in its second edition, it was
upgraded & renamed as “Exercise KAZIND”
IMPORTANT DEFENCE
EXERCISES
INDIA-EU Joint Naval Exercise
• India and European Union conducted their
first-ever joint naval exercise in Gulf of Guinea,
off the coast of Ghana, which came on the
heels of the third meeting of the EU-India
Maritime Security Dialogue held on October
5th in Brussels.
• Indian Naval Ship Sumedha, joined forces with
three EU ships: Italian Ship Foscari, French Ship
Ventose, Spanish Ship Tornado
IMPORTANT DEFENCE
EXERCISES
HARIMAU SHAKTI 2023
• Indian and Malaysian armies kicked off Ex-
Harimau Shakti 2023, at Umroi Cantoment,
Meghalaya.
• The Indian contingent was represented by a
battalion of THE RAJPUT Regiment
• The earlier edition of the exercise was held in
Pulai, Kluang, Malaysia in Nov 22
• The exercise will incorporate modern
technology, including Drones/UAVs and
Helicopters
IMPORTANT DEFENCE
EXERCISES
SAMPRITI XI
• Indian and Bangladesh armies kicked off the
11th edition of EX-SAMPRITI , at Umroi
Cantoment, Meghalaya.
• The exercise is scheduled for a duration of 14
days & involves approx. 350 personnel from
both countries. Indian contingent was primarily
from THE RAJPUT Regiment.
• It consists of a Command Post Exercise (CPX), a
Field Training Exercise (FTX), and a Validation
Exercise
IMPORTANT DEFENCE
EXERCISES
ASEAN Counter-Terrorism Exercise
• An Indian Army contingent participated in
ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM)
Plus Expert Working Group (EWG) on Counter
Terrorism Field Training Exercise, 2023 in
Russia
• Indian Army contingent consisted 32 personnel
from RAJPUTANA RIFLES
• The inaugural ADMM Plus took place in Ha Noi,
Vietnam on 12 Oct 2010
IMPORTANT DEFENCE
EXERCISES
India-Indonesia-Australia Maritime
Exercise and SIMBEX
• Indian Navy’s indigenous warship, INS
Sahyadri, stationed in Indo-Pacific region
participated in inaugural trilateral Maritime
Partnership Exercise alongside the Royal
Australian Navy (RAN) and the Indonesian Navy
• For SIMBEX -30 between Indian and Singapore,
INS Ranvijay and Kavaratti, along with
submarine INS Sindhukesari took part in
exercise in Singapore
IMPORTANT DEFENCE
EXERCISES
Exercise BRIGHT STAR
• Indian Air Force sent a contingent along with
approx. 150 Indian Army personnel to
participate in Ex- Bright Star 23, a biennial tri-
service exercise held in Egypt at the Cairo
(West) Air Base
• IAF participated in the exercise for the first
time
• The exercise included contingents from the
United States, Saudi Arabia, Greece, and
Qatar
IMPORTANT DEFENCE
EXERCISES
MALABAR Exercise
• 27th edition of Exercise Malabar concluded off
the East Coast of Australia
• It included naval forces of the Indian Navy,
Royal Australian Navy, Japan Maritime Self
Defence Force, and the US Navy
• Exercise MALABAR plays a crucial role in
promoting regional security and stability in the
Indo-Pacific
IMPORTANT DEFENCE
EXERCISES
NOMADIC ELEPHANT 2023
• The Indian Army contingent participated in 15th
edition of joint military exercise with Mongolia
– Nomadic Elephant which is annual training
event
• It was organized in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to
focus on counter-terrorism operations in
mountainous terrain
• The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry
Regiment actively participated in the exercise
IMPORTANT DEFENCE
EXERCISES
SALVEX 2023
• The Indian Navy and the US Navy participated
in 7th edition of the IN-USN Salvage and
Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) exercise,
known as SALVEX
• It was held in Kochi in India
• INS Nireekshak led the SALVEX 2023 exercise
along with US naval vessel USNS Salvor
IMPORTANT DEFENCE
EXERCISES
KHAAN QUEST 2023
• The multinational peacekeeping joint exercise,
Ex Khaan Quest 2023, concluded in Mongolia
which aims to enhance interoperability, share
experiences, and train uniformed personnel for
UN Peace Keeping Operations.
• It serves as a platform for military contingents
and observers from more than 20 countries to
come together
• Indian Army was represented by a contingent
from GARHWAL RIFLES
IMPORTANT DEFENCE
EXERCISES
TALISMAN SABRE 2023
• Australia and the United States had initiated
the Talisman Sabre joint military exercises, with
more than 30,000 troops and participants from
11 other countries
• It is a biennial exercise held every 2 years and
began first in 2005
• This year Germany joined for the first time and
India, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand
attended as Observers
IMPORTANT DEFENCE
EXERCISES
OCEAN SHIELD
• Russia has held the Exercise Ocean Shield in
the Baltic Sea
• It involved over 30 military vessels and boats,
20 support vessels, 30 naval aviation and
Aerospace Forces of Russia aircraft, and
approximately 6,000 military personnel
• This was just a mere two months after Finland
joined NATO as its latest member.
IMPORTANT DEFENCE
EXERCISES
FALCON SHIELD
• China and United Arab Emirates (UAE) carried
out Falcon Shield in China’s Xinjiang Uygur
autonomous region
• UAE’s F-16 and Mirage 2000 participated in the
exercise
• The exercises indicate the dedication of UAE
President Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed to
enhancing relations with China, particularly in
defense
IMPORTANT DEFENCE
EXERCISES
SOUTH KOREA, US, JAPAN – AERIAL DRILL
• The first-ever joint aerial exercise aimed at
bolstering defense cooperation &
preparedness against increasing missile and
nuclear threat by North Korea.
• The drills included US B-52 Bomber, a long-
range strategic aircraft.
• In August, the three countries held a summit at
Camp David, agreeing to a multi-year plan of
regular joint exercises and real-time data
sharing related to North Korea
OTHER IMPORTANT EXERCISES CONDUCTED IN
2023
EXERCISE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES HELD AT
AJEYA WARRIORS 23 INDIA AND UK SALISBURY PLAINS
COPE 23 INDIA AND USA KALAIKUNDA, PANAGARH
& AGRA, INDIA
SAMUDRA SHAKTI INDIA AND INDONESIA SOUTH CHINA SEA
BALIKATAN USA AND PHILLIPPINES CAMP AGUINALDO IN
QUEZON CITY
KONKAN 23 INDIA AND UK KONKAN COAST
SEA DRAGON INDIA, USA, JAPAN, CANADA, GUAM, USA
SOUTH KOREA
LA PEROUSE 23 NAVY OF AUSTRALIA, FRANCE, INDIAN OCEAN REGION
INDIA, JAPAN, UK AND USA
BOLD KURUKSHETRA INDIA AND SINGAPORE JODHPUR MILITARY
STATION
Bilateral Exercise
Nation Service Exercise
Australia Army Austra Hind
Navy AusIndEx
Bangladesh Army Sampriti
Navy IN - BN Corpat
Air Force Table Top EX
China Army Hand In Hand
France Army Shakti
Navy Varuna
Air Force Garuda
Indonesia Army Garuda Shakti
Navy IND-INDO Corpat
Samudra Shakti
Japan Army Dharma Guardian
Navy JIMEX
Bilateral Exercise
Nation Service Exercise
Kazakhstan Army Prabal Dostyk
Kyrgyzstan Army Khanjar
Maldives Army Ekuverin
Mongolia Army Nomadic Elephant
Myanmar Army IMBEX
Navy IMCOR
Nepal Army Surya Kiran
Oman Army Al Nagah
Navy Naseem-al-Bahr
Air Force Eastern Bridge
Russia Army Indra
Navy Indra Navy
Air Force AviaIndra
Bilateral Exercise
Nation Service Exercise
Seychelles Army Lamitiye
Sri Lanka Army Mitra Shakti
Navy SLINEX
Thailand Army Maitree
Navy Indo-Thai Corpat
Air Force Siam Bharat
UK Army Ajeya Warrior
Navy Konkan
Air Force IndraDhanush
USA Army YudhaAbhyas & Vajra
Prahar
Navy Malabar (Multilateral)
Air Force Red Flag & COPE India
Vietnam Army VINBAX
me
