IAF Hosts Air Domain Awareness Symposium at Exercise Tarang Shakti 2024

Why in the news?

IAF’s symposium during Exercise Tarang Shakti 2024 gathered 50 delegates from 27 nations to discuss strategies and technologies for improving air domain awareness and regional security.

Event Overview:

  • The Indian Air Force (IAF) held a multinational symposium on ‘Air Domain Awareness’ on September 11, 2024, in Jodhpur, as part of Exercise Tarang Shakti.
  • Exercise Tarang Shakti is India’s largest multinational air exercise focused on improving interoperability and coordination among Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs).
  • The symposium’s theme was “Collaborative Approach to Facilitate Air Domain Awareness Towards Enhancing Regional Security.”

Participation and Discussions:

  • The event included over 50 delegates from 27 countries participating in Exercise Tarang Shakti.
  • Air Marshal Surat Singh AVSM VM VSM, Director General Air (Operations), IAF, delivered the keynote address.
  • Delegates discussed air domain awareness strategies, challenges from national and regional perspectives, and exchanged ideas on air situational awareness and airspace management.
  • Key discussions centred around policy issues and technological solutions for better information sharing.

Closing and Outcomes

  • The symposium concluded with remarks from Air Vice Marshal PV Shivanand VM, Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Air Defence).
  • The event fostered collaborative dialogue among experts, aiming to enhance regional security and address emerging challenges in air domain awareness.

Key Facts about Exercise Tarang Shakti:

  • India’s largest international air exercise with 51 invited nations.
  • Aims: to strengthen strategic relations and improve interoperability with friendly foreign countries.
  • Phase 1 (Aug 6-14) at Sulur, Tamil Nadu, with France, Germany, Spain, and the UK.
  • Phase 2 (Sep 1-14) at Jodhpur, Rajasthan, with Australia, Bangladesh, Greece, Singapore, UAE, and the USA.
  • Strengthen strategic ties and mutual understanding.
  • Showcase India’s defence capabilities.
  • Foster interoperability and share expertise among air forces.

Highlights:

  • Foreign assets include F-18, Eurofighter Typhoon, Rafale.
  • Indian assets: Tejas, Prachand, Dhruv, Rudra.
  • Defence expo showcasing Indian innovations.

Sources Referred:

PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express, Hindustan Times