Latest news with #Indo-FrenchJointMilitaryExercise
India Gazette
an hour ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Indo-French joint military exercise SHAKTI-VIII underway in southern France
La Cavalerie [France], June 28 (ANI): The Indo-French Joint Military Exercise SHAKTI-VIII continues to strengthen operational interoperability and mutual cooperation between the Indian and French Armies. Held at Camp Larzac, La Cavalerie in Southern France, the exercise features the participation of 90 personnel, primarily from the Indian Army's Jammu and Kashmir Rifles battalion, alongside the French Army's 13e Demi-Brigade de Legion Etrangre. These 90 personnel from the Indian Army contingent had departed for France on Monday to participate in the eighth edition of Exercise 'Shakti', scheduled to take place in La Cavalerie from 18 June to 01 July 2025. In an official statement, the Army said, 'The Indian Army contingent has departed today for France to participate in the 8th edition of Exercise Shakti, taking place in La Cavalerie, France, from 18 June to 01 July 2025. The Exercise will foster synergy and interoperability in the conduct of counter terrorism operations in semi-urban terrain.' Exercise Shakti is an annual military training engagement conducted alternately in India and France. Last year, the seventh edition of Exercise Shakti was conducted at Umroi in Meghalaya from 13 to 26 May 2024. It was held at a 'fully developed and modern Foreign Training Node'. Underlining the diplomatic and military importance of the event, the Ministry of Defence in an official statement said, '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. The Indian contingent for the 2024 edition comprised 90 personnel, mainly from a Battalion of the Rajput Regiment, with additional participation from other arms and services. Observers from the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force were also part of the exercise. The French contingent, also consisting of 90 personnel, was represented mainly by soldiers from the 13th Foreign Legion Half-Brigade (13th DBLE), the MoD statement added. Outlining the broader aim of the exercise, the Ministry said,' 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 focus on operations in the semi-urban and mountainous terrain.' 'Objectives to be achieved from the joint training are a high degree of physical fitness, rehearsing and refining drills for operations at the tactical level and sharing of best practices,' the MoD added. Key tactical elements to be practised during the joint exercise include responses to terrorist actions involving the capture of defined territory, setting up of a Joint Command Post and an Intelligence & Surveillance Centre, and securing of landing sites. The exercise will also feature Small Team Insertion and Extraction drills, Special Heliborne Operations, Cordon and Search Operations, as well as the deployment of drones and counter-drone systems. The Ministry added: '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 interoperability, 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.' (ANI)
New Indian Express
6 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
India, France conduct joint exercise 'Shakti-VIII' to deepen of military-to-military trust
NEW DELHI: The Indian and French Armies carried out joint military exercises in France in a realistic condition encompassing a wide spectrum of mission-specific drills tailored to sub-conventional and modern warfare. The Indian Army says the Indo-French Joint Military Exercise, christened Shakti-VIII, 'will strengthen operational interoperability and mutual cooperation between the two militaries.' The exercise included 'combat shooting in semi-developed terrain, obstacle crossings, urban combat drills, joint patrols, and troop insertion techniques—all conducted under realistic operational conditions to sharpen tactical adaptability.' Specialist detachments from both sides have engaged in Electronic Warfare (EW) and Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) training, incorporating signal interception, jamming, spectrum control, and drone-neutralisation exercises. The Army said, 'These modules have enhanced both contingents' ability to operate effectively in contested electromagnetic environments, significantly augmenting modern battlefield readiness.'
India Gazette
9 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Indian contingent demonstrates tactical proficiency, joint synergy in France in SHAKTI-VIII exercise
Paris [France], June 28 (ANI): The Indo-French Joint Military Exercise SHAKTI-VIII continues to strengthen operational interoperability and mutual cooperation between the Indian and French armies. Held at Camp Larzac, La Cavalerie in southern France, the exercise features the participation of 90 personnel, primarily troops from a Jammu and Kashmir Rifles battalion, alongside the French Army's 13e Demi-Brigade de Legion Etrangre. The joint training encompasses a wide spectrum of mission-specific drills tailored to sub-conventional warfare. These include combat shooting in semi-developed terrain, obstacle crossings, urban combat drills, joint patrols, and troop insertion techniques--all conducted under realistic operational conditions to sharpen tactical adaptability. Specialist detachments from both sides have engaged in Electronic Warfare (EW) and Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) training, incorporating signal interception, jamming, spectrum control, and drone-neutralisation exercises. These modules have enhanced both contingents' ability to operate effectively in contested electromagnetic environments, significantly augmenting modern battlefield readiness. A key highlight of the engagement was the successful conduct of a high-intensity 96-hour joint field exercise, simulating multi-domain operations under sustained, high-pressure conditions. This phase tested endurance, decision-making, and coordination across command levels, yielding critical insights into joint mission execution, tactical flexibility, and cross-functional integration. Following this phase, the Indian contingent was visited by Sanjeev Singla, Ambassador of India to France and Monaco, who interacted with the troops, lauded their professionalism, and acknowledged their contribution to strengthening India-France defence cooperation. His visit provided a significant morale boost and reaffirmed India's commitment to its enduring strategic partnership with France. Exercise SHAKTI-VIII has reaffirmed itself as a vital platform for the exchange of best practices, the development of integrated operational capabilities, and the deepening of military-to-military trust. It continues to enhance tactical and technical synergy while contributing to broader regional security and strategic alignment. (ANI)
