New Delhi, May 13 (FN Agency) The 7th edition of India-France joint military exercise Shakti, that will enable the two sides to share their best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures of conducting joint operations, commenced at Umroi in Meghalaya on Monday. As many as 90 personnel from the Indian contingent are participating in the Exercise being conducted from 13th to 26th May, a Defence Ministry statement said. The Indian contingent is being represented primarily by a Battalion of the Rajput Regiment besides personnel from other arms and services.
Observers from the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force will also form a part of the exercise. Meanwhile, the French contingent comprising 90 personnel will be represented mainly by the 13th Foreign Legion Half- Brigade (13th DBLE) personnel. The aim of Exercise SHAKTI is to enhance joint military capability of both sides to undertake multi-domain operations in a sub conventional scenario under Chapter VII of the United Nations Mandate. The joint exercise will also focus on operations in the semi-urban and mountainous terrain.
Objectives to be achieved from the joint training are high degree of physical fitness, rehearsing and refining drills for operations at tactical level and sharing of best practices. Tactical drills to be practiced during the Exercise will include response to a terrorist action of capturing a defined territory, establishment of a Joint Command Post, establishment of an Intelligence and Surveillance Centre, securing of a helipad/ landing site, small team insertion and extraction, Special Heliborne Operations, Cordon & Search Operations besides employment of drones and counter drone systems among others. Exercise SHAKTI will enable the two sides to share their best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures of conducting joint operations. The joint exercise will facilitate developing inter-operability, bonhomie and camaraderie between armed forces personnel of the two countries. This will also enhance the level of defence cooperation, further fostering bilateral relations between the two friendly nations. The opening ceremony of the joint exercise was attended by Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India and Major General Prasanna Sudhakar Joshi, General Officer Commanding 51 Sub Area. Exercise SHAKTI is a biennial training event conducted alternatively in India and France. The last edition was conducted in France in November 2021.