India and Malaysia Commence Exercise Udara Shakti 2026

The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) commenced the bilateral air exercise Udara Shakti 2026 on 10 August 2026. The five-day exercise is scheduled to continue until 14 August 2026 at Subang Air Base in Malaysia.

Exercise Overview

Udara Shakti is a bilateral air exercise between India and Malaysia. The exercise was inaugurated at the Air Warfare Centre in Subang Air Base by RMAF Exercise Director Colonel Shamsul Shahreen bin Isa and IAF Exercise Director Group Captain Parijat Jha.

Indian Defence Adviser Colonel Praveen Sukumaran attended the opening ceremony. The exercise involves 83 personnel from both air forces.

Aircraft and Squadron Participation

The IAF deployed four Rafale fighter jets from No. 101 Squadron and two C-17 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft from No. 81 Squadron. The Rafale is a twin-engine, multirole combat aircraft developed by Dassault Aviation of France.

The RMAF deployed two Su-30MKM fighter jets from No. 12 Squadron, two F/A-18D fighter jets from No. 18 Squadron, and one A400M transport aircraft from No. 8 Squadron. The Su-30MKM is a variant of the Sukhoi Su-30 family used by Malaysia.

Operational Focus and Training Themes

The exercise includes complex air combat manoeuvring, air-to-air refuelling, and strategic airlift operations. These activities are part of standard air power training for fighter, transport, and support aircraft.

Joint field training and Subject Matter Expert Exchanges continued at Subang Air Base on 13 August 2026. Such exchanges are used in military exercises to compare procedures, tactics, and operational methods.

Important Facts for Exams

• Udara Shakti is a bilateral air exercise between India and Malaysia.
• Subang Air Base is located in Malaysia and hosts the Air Warfare Centre.
• The Rafale is operated by the Indian Air Force and is used in multirole combat roles.
• The C-17 Globemaster III is a strategic transport aircraft used for long-range airlift missions.

Exercise Significance in Military Terms

Bilateral air exercises are conducted to improve interoperability between two air forces. Interoperability refers to the ability of military units from different countries to operate together using compatible procedures and communication systems.