India and Malaysia have begun Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 at Subang Air Base, featuring Indian Rafale fighters and Malaysian Su-30MKM and F/A-18D jets in advanced air combat drills. The five-day exercise involves 83 personnel, 11 aircraft, and complex missions including dissimilar fighter manoeuvres, air-to-air refuelling, and doctrinal exchanges.

The Indian Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Air Force commenced Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 at Subang Air Base in Selangor on 13 August. The exercise is a bilateral program designed to enhance operational learning, exchange best practices and strengthen interoperability between the two air forces.

According to the Indian Air Force, air warriors from both nations are engaged in joint field training and Subject Matter Expert exchanges. The collaborative spirit was highlighted in the IAF’s message: “Train together. Learn together. Operate together.”

The exercise involves four Indian Rafale fighters from 101 Squadron and two C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft from 81 Squadron, marking the Rafale’s first participation in Udara Shakti since its induction in 2020. Malaysia has deployed two Su-30MKM fighters from No. 12 Squadron, two F/A-18D Hornets from No. 18 Squadron, and one Airbus A400M transport aircraft from No. 8 Squadron.

The opening ceremony was held at the Air Warfare Centre Auditorium, Subang Air Base, on 10 August. It was officiated jointly by Colonel Shamsul Shahreen Isa of the RMAF and Group Captain Parijat Jha of the IAF, with the symbolic pinning of exercise patches. The Indian Defence Adviser to Malaysia, Colonel Praveen Sukumaran, was also present.

The exercise runs from 10 to 14 August and includes a three-day flying phase from 11 to 13 August. Training missions cover Dissimilar Basic Fighter Manoeuvres (DBFM), Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT), Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR), and aerial photography sessions (PHOTEX). These drills test the ability of both air forces to operate different fighter platforms together, refine tactical coordination, and improve decision-making in complex scenarios.

Beyond flying, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges provide a platform for discussions on collective training concepts, integrated operations, doctrine development, scenario planning and the role of science and technology in modern military training. This ensures exposure to diverse aircraft capabilities and enhances adaptability in dynamic air warfare environments.

Exercise Udara Shakti is a biennial bilateral initiative. Previous editions in 2018, 2022 and 2024 saw Indian Su-30MKI fighters participate, but 2026 marks the debut of Rafales in Malaysia.

The exercise is being conducted during the transit of the Indian contingent following its participation in Exercise Pitch Black 2026 in Australia, which concluded on 7 August. That multinational program involved 100 aircraft and 2,500 personnel from 20 nations, including India and Malaysia.

Pitch Black 2026 featured the debut of Japan’s F-35 Lightning II and Indonesia’s T-50I Golden Eagle jets, alongside embedded personnel from Finland and Sweden. Aircraft from the United States, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Germany, France and Spain also participated, with embedded personnel from New Zealand, Fiji, Canada, Brunei and Malaysia. Air Commodore Matthew McCormack, Exercise Commander, emphasised the importance of such high-end training activities.

The commencement of Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 underscores India’s commitment to strengthening bilateral defence ties in Southeast Asia and Malaysia’s focus on enhancing operational readiness with regional partners. It reflects a shared objective of improving interoperability and contributing to collective security in the Indo-Pacific.

ANI