Indian fighters join global air power showcase at Tarang Shakti exercise

India's indigenous Tejas light combat aircraft is taking to the skies alongside some of the world's most advanced fighter jets in a landmark multinational air exercise, underscoring New Delhi's growing military aviation capabilities and defence partnerships.

The Tarang Shakti air exercise features India's homegrown Tejas alongside France's Rafale multirole fighter, the United States' F-35 stealth jet and Russian-made Sukhoi aircraft. The joint operations showcase the interoperability of diverse aircraft platforms and reflect India's deepening defence cooperation with multiple global powers.

The exercise has mobilised more than 80 aircraft from Indian and foreign air forces, supported by approximately 1,500 personnel including pilots, technicians and ground support staff. Such large-scale multinational drills allow participating nations to share operational expertise, test joint procedures and strengthen military-to-military ties in the region.

Tarang Shakti represents a significant milestone for the Indian Air Force, demonstrating the operational readiness of indigenous platforms like the Tejas alongside cutting-edge foreign military hardware. The exercise underscores India's strategic objective of building comprehensive defence relationships while advancing self-reliance in aerospace technology.