Source: DD News
Subject: Security
Context: India and Thailand conducted a joint air combat exercise in the Indian Ocean Region to enhance interoperability and Indo-Pacific security cooperation.
- Simultaneously, the Indian Air Force announced Exercise Vayushakti-26, showcasing its full-spectrum combat capability at Pokhran.
About Military Exercises in News:
What it is?
- Military exercises are structured training operations conducted by armed forces, either bilaterally or multilaterally, to enhance combat readiness, interoperability, operational coordination, and strategic deterrence.
- They demonstrate military capability, strengthen defence diplomacy, and reinforce regional security partnerships.
About India–Thailand Joint Air Combat Exercise:
- What it is?
- A bilateral in-situ air combat exercise conducted in the Indian Ocean Region to deepen defence cooperation under India’s Act East Policy.
- Host & Location:
-
- Conducted in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)
- IAF operated from Andaman & Nicobar Islands
- Nations Involved:
-
- Indian Air Force (IAF)
- Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF)
- Key Features:
-
- IAF Su-30MKI vs Thai SAAB Gripen fighters.
- Supported by IL-78 mid-air refuelling tankers.
- Surveillance via IAF AWACS and Thai GCI units.
- Focus on maritime air combat & long-range reach.
- Boosts Indo-Pacific security and operational synergy
About Exercise Vayushakti-26:
- What it is?
- A biennial firepower demonstration exercise by the Indian Air Force to display combat capability, precision strike ability, and multi-domain dominance.
- Host & Location:
-
- Hosted by the Indian Air Force.
- Conducted at Pokhran Air-to-Ground Range, Jaisalmer (Rajasthan).
- Nation Involved: Solely conducted by the Indian Air Force (India).
- Key Features:
-
- Participation of platforms: Rafale, Tejas, Su-30MKI, Mirage-2000, Jaguar, MiG-29, C-130J, C-17, Apache, Chinook, LCH, RPAs.
- Advanced weapons: Akash, SpyDer, SRLM, CUAS.
- Demonstrates day, dusk & night strike missions.
- Showcases indigenous capability under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
- Highlights lessons from Operation Sindoor.
- Core values: Achook (Accurate), Abhedya (Impenetrable), Sateek (Precise).
