List of Military Exercises of India 2024-25, Participating Counties

• Harbour phase: March 28 to 30
• Sea phase: March 31 to April 2

About Exercise Talisman Sabre

• It is the largest bilateral military exercise between Australia and the United States, with participation from multiple countries.
• It has been held biennially since 2005, making 2025 its 11th edition.
• The exercise takes place at various locations across Australia and offshore, involving both Defence and civilian training zones.
• Its core objective is to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific by enhancing cooperation and interoperability among key allies.
• In addition to the U.S., participating nations include:
  • Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, and the United Kingdom.
  • Malaysia and Vietnam are attending the exercise as observer nations.

Details

Conducted at Air Force Station Jodhpur in February 2025.

Forces involved: Elite Para (Special Forces) of Indian Army, Marine Commandos of Indian Navy & Garud (Special Forces) of Indian Air Force

It is designed to combat combat readiness, particularly in the Indian Ocean Region.

Antariksh Abhyaas is a first of its kind exercise being conducted to secure national strategic objectives in space and integrate India’s space capability in military operations.

About Defence Space Agency

·       Integrated tri-services agency of the Indian Armed forces.

·       Functions: Operating the space warfare and space intelligence assets of India.

·       Headquartered in Bangalore, India.

Led by Indian Army.

Conducted at Ahmedabad and Porbandar in 2024.

Aim: Validation of procedures towards assessment of Indian Navy’s preparedness to meet Maritime Security challenges in the region.

Participation of 24 agencies across 6 ministries – Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indian Coast Guard, State Marine Police, Customs, BSF, CISF, Post and Fisheries department.

Fourth Edition of SEA VIGIL was conducted across India’s entire coastline of 11,098 km and EEZ of 2.4 million sq. km in November 2024.

Conducted on India’s Eastern Seaboard at Vishakhapatnam.

Conducted annually since 2004 alternatively in India and USA.

20th edition of YUDH ABHYAAS was hosted in Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan in September 2024.

15th Edition of VAJRA PRAHAR was conducted in Idaho, USA.

Conducted biennially at alternative locations in India and France.

7th Edition of Shakti exercise took place at Umroi, Meghalaya.

18th Edition of Surya Kiran Exercise was conducted in Saljhandi, Nepal in January 2025.

Initiated in 2005.

Last edition of SLINEX was conduted in December 2024 in Vishakhapatnam.

Conducted annually alternatively between India and Sri Lanka.

10th Edition of Mitra Shakti was conducted at Sri Lanka in August 2024.

Conducted annually alternatively in Indian and Japan.

6th Edition took place in Japan February 2025.

8th edition of JIMEX was conducted in Yokosuka, Japan.

13th Edition took place at Devlali Firing range, Maharashtra in November 2024.

SIMBEX began as Exercise Lion King in 1994 and is conducted annually.

31^st edition of SIMBEX was hosted by India at Vishakhapatnam in October 2024.

Conducted in Malaysia in August 2024.

4^th Edition of Hiramau Shakti was conducted in Malaysia in December 2024.

9^th Edition of Garud Shakti took place in Indonesia.

3rd edition of Cyclone exercise took place in Mahajan Firing Range in Rajasthan in February 2025.

Conducted biennially since 2015 alternatively between India and Oman.

5th Edition of Al Najah exercise took place at in Oman in September 2024.

7th Edition of Eastern Bridge took place at Masirah Air Force Base, Oman.

Conducted off the coast of Goa in October 2024.

Conducted at Surya Foreign Training Node, Auli, Uttarakhand in October 2024.

Annual military exercise conducted alternatively between Indian Army and Uzbekistan Army.

Sixth Edition of Dustlik was conducted in Aundh, Pune.

16th Edition took place at Umroi, Meghalaya in July 2024.

13th Edition of MAITREE was conducted in July 2024 in Thailand.

Focus on joint counter terrorism/insurgency in Jungle and Urban environment.

Conducted annually alternatively in India and Australia.

Third edition of AUSTRAHIND was conducted at Pune in November 2024.

Conducted annually alternatively in India and Vietnam.

5^th edition of VINBAX was conducted at Chandimandir and Ambala in November 2024.

First edition of CINBAX exercise was conducted at Aundh, Pune.

Focus was on counterterrorism.

Details

·       INIOCHOS Air Exercise is conducted every two years (biennially) with more than 15 countries participating.

·       Indian Air Force is participating in this exercise.

·       Hosted biannually (two-years) by the Indonesian Navy.

·       RIMPAC is the world’s largest naval exercise hosted by the US Pacific Fleet.

·       RIMPAC is held biennially (every two years) in even numbered years in June and July 2024.

·       Indian Navy participated in RIMPAC 2024 in Hawaii.

·       Total of 29 countries participated in RIMPAC 2024.

·       Multinational peacekeeping capabilities.

·       KHAAN QUEST started as a bilateral exercise between USA and Mongolia and from 2006 onwards graduated into multinational peacekeeping exercise.

·       The name ‘Pitch Black’ was derived from the emphasis on nighttime flying over large un-populated areas.

·       Conducted biennially hosted in Northern Australia at RAAF bases in Darwin and Tindal.

·       The 2024 edition PITCH BLACK exercise was the largest in its history with more than 20 countries participating.

·       Initiated between India and USA navies in 1992 as a bilateral exercise.

·       28^th Edition of Malabar Exercise was hosted by Indian Navy at Vishakhapatnam.

·       Countries participating: India, Australia, Japan, USA.

·       To be conducted every two years (biennially).

·       2024 edition was the first and largest multi-national air exercise hosted by Indian Air Force.

·       First edition was hosted in September and October 2024.

·       Participation of 11 countries: Australia, France, Germany, Greece, Japan, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, UAE, UK, USA

·       AIKEYME aims to strengthen maritime cooperation between Indian Navy and navies of African countries – Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa and Tanzania.

·       The inaugural edition of AIKEYME exercise took place at Dar es Salam, Tanzania in April 2025.

·       Countries participating: Australia, Bahrain, France, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, UAE, UK, and USA, India.

·       Indian Air Force participated for the first time in Red Flag Exercise in June 2024 in Alaska, USA.

·       Participants: Singapore, UK, Netherlands, Germany, USA, India.

·       It has been initiated by French Navy for cooperation with like-minded countries in the Indo-Pacific Region.

·       Participating navy in 2025 Edition: France, India, Australia, Canada, USA, Indonesia, Malaysia, UK, Singapore.

·       Conducted at straits of Malacca, Sunda and Lombok between the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean in January 2025.

Indian Navy Exercises

• Annual bilateral maritime exercise held between India and Sri Lanka.
• 8th edition took place in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, in October 2020.
• Aims to increase interoperability, mutual understanding, and share best practices for maritime operations.

• Indian Navy (IN)
• Sri Lanka Navy (SLN)

• Indo-Russia joint maritime exercise, 12th edition held in Volgograd, Russia, in August 2021.
• Focuses on counter-terror operations against international terror groups under the UN.
• Enhances cooperation and understanding between the two navies.

• Indian Navy
• Russian Navy

• Bilateral naval exercise between India and the UK initiated in 2004.
• Held alternatively by both navies, aims for complexity and scale growth.
• Konkan 2021 held in the English Channel between INS Tabar and HMS Westminster.

• Indian Navy
• United Kingdom Navy

• Bilateral maritime exercise, 19th edition (VARUNA-2021) held in the Arabian Sea.
• United Arab Emirates (UAE) participated for the first time.
• Focuses on shared values for freedom of seas and commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific and rules-based order.

• Indian Navy
• French Navy

• Bilateral maritime exercise, 12th edition held in Mormugao Port, Goa, between India and Oman.
• Known as “Naseem-Al-Bahr” (sea breeze) since 1993.
• Aims to strengthen cooperation and enhance capabilities for maritime operations.

• Indian Navy
• Royal Navy of Oman

• First joint exercise between Coast Guards of India and Vietnam.
• Held in the Bay of Bengal off Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• Focuses on improving working relationships, coordination, and capabilities for sea life rescue and environmental protection.

• Indian Coast Guard
• Vietnam Coast Guard

• Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) exercise between India and Indonesia.
• Conducted twice a year along their International Maritime Boundary Line since 2002.
• Enhances maritime security and cooperation in the Indian Ocean region.

• Indian Navy
• Indonesian Navy

• Bilateral maritime exercise, 28th edition (SIMBEX-2021) held in the southern rims of the South China Sea.
• Aims to strengthen bilateral defence ties between India and Singapore.
• Held during India’s 75th year of independence celebrations.

• Indian Navy
• Republic of Singapore Navy

• Coordinated patrol (IMCOR) initiative between Indian Navy and Myanmar Navy.
• Aims to combat illegal activities, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and enhance mutual understanding and cooperation for maritime security.

• Indian Navy
• Myanmar Navy

• First naval exercise between Indian Navy and Royal Saudi Naval Force.
• INS Kochi, flagship destroyer of Indian Western Naval Fleet, participated.
• Highlights defence and military cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia.

• Indian Navy
• Royal Saudi Naval Force