Bangladesh Withdraws C-130 From Tarang Shakti Air Exercise, Sri Lanka Join At Last Minute

In a surprising turn of events, Bangladesh has pulled its C-130 aircraft from the second phase of the multinational air exercise, Tarang Shakti, commencing today in Jodhpur. This move alters Bangladesh's participation significantly, as they were initially scheduled to contribute their C-130 to the drills. Despite this, officials from the Bangladesh Air Force will remain involved as observers.

Sri Lanka has stepped up to fill the gap left by Bangladesh, contributing its own C-130 aircraft and becoming an active participant in this phase of the exercise.

Tarang Shakti, India's largest multinational air exercise, enters its second phase from August 30 to September 14. This phase will feature daring aerial displays from fighter jets representing Australia, the US, Greece, Bangladesh, Singapore, and the UAE.

Greece's involvement marks its first-ever participation in a military exercise in India, underscoring the strengthening of military ties between the two countries since April 2023.

India will showcase its cutting-edge military capabilities during the exercise, deploying assets such as the LCA Tejas, Su-30 MKIs, and Rafales. With over 18 nations participating and approximately 67 fighter jets involved, Tarang Shakti 2024 underscores India's growing significance in promoting multinational defence cooperation and enhancing interoperability among the participating air forces.

Air forces from 10 countries are actively participating with their assets, while others are involved as observers. Australia's F-18, Sri Lanka’s C-130, Greece's F-16, and the USA's A-10 and F-16 will all demonstrate their capabilities in Indian airspace near the western border.

The Indian Air Force will contribute Rafale, Sukhoi, Mirage, Jaguar, Tejas, MiG-29, Prachand and Rudra attack helicopters, ALH Dhruv, C-130, IL-78, and AWACS assets.

Air Force Chiefs from the participating nations will be present during the exercise. The first phase of Tarang Shakti took place in Sulur, Tamil Nadu, from August 6 to 14, with France, Germany, Spain, and the UK taking part.

This phase of Tarang Shakti, hosted by the Indian Air Force, aims to boost interoperability and strengthen defence ties among the participating countries, with operations planned near India's western border. The exercise serves as a vital forum for fostering multinational cooperation in the region.

 

[Hegde Deepak]

Henceforth, Bangladesh will only terrorists to India like their new masters Pakistan;s ISI !

 

[neil]

We should avoid inviting BanglaD from future multinational exercises which we host...only do bilateral exercises, if at all we feel the need to do anything with them.

 

[Chinese eater]

Indian Intel agencies total failure in Bangladesh. Taken by surprise. Hasina choose India instead of US, China, Pakistan, yet Indian agencies were sleeping to ISI and USA destabilize Bangladesh. What was Indian agencies doing when anti India mulla and party were growing ?? Should have eliminated those anti India individuals and party. ISI planted jihadist mulla to united Bangladesh common citizen in the name of Islam and filled their brain with Anti India Anti Hindu propaganda, this was going on for many years and Indian agencies took it lightly.

 

[Sandeep]

India needs to be careful in how they approach and handle the change in government. We need to ensure that our policies, agreements and cooperation will still be maintained and its foreign policy with India will not change.

One key project that India needs to start is the Teesta river project that benefits both countries in agriculture, energy, water conservation, potable water, basic sanitation and less polluted etc. Instead of China India needs to develop it to make sure that India’s national security isn’t compromised or at risk by Chinese officials, workers, spies etc which will threaten India even more.