--- title: "India's military exercises in October 2026, explained" description: "In a crisis, ships and aircraft from different countries may have to share radio channels, refuel each other or hunt the same submarine. If they have never..." url: "https://allindia.news/defence/india-military-exercises-october-2026-tarang-shakti-bimstec/index.md" canonical: "https://allindia.news/defence/india-military-exercises-october-2026-tarang-shakti-bimstec/" published: "2026-11-02T01:09:00+05:30" updated: "2026-11-02T01:09:00+05:30" section: "Defence" language: "en-IN" site: "AllIndia.news" --- # Ten exercises on three continents in one month: what India's forces were rehearsing for _In a crisis, ships and aircraft from different countries may have to share radio channels, refuel each other or hunt the same submarine. If they have never practised it, they fumble. In October Indian forces rehearsed with partners from Plymouth to Vladivostok, and the month ended with two firsts._ Published 2 November 2026 by the AllIndia.news defence desk. Section: Defence, Exercises. ## The numbers - **7 + 32**: air forces flying at Tarang Shakti 2026, plus observer nations - **39**: countries whose personnel trained under the Indian-led task force CTF 154 - **7**: member states in the first BIMSTEC maritime security exercise - **33rd**: edition of SIMBEX with Singapore, an exercise that began in 1994 ## Why rehearse with someone else's forces? In a crisis, ships from different navies may have to share radio channels, refuel each other or hunt the same submarine. Aircraft may have to share the same sky. If they have never practised it, they fumble. Exercises are rehearsals, so that the first time is not the real time. In October 2026 India's Army, Navy and Air Force ran at least ten such rehearsals with partners in India, Europe, East and Southeast Asia and southern Africa, according to Ministry of Defence releases. [1] [2] [4] [6] [7] [10] [11] ## In the air: seven air forces over the desert Tarang Shakti 2026, hosted by the Air Force at Jodhpur from 26 September to 12 October, brought the air forces of Australia, Bangladesh, France, Germany, Sri Lanka, the UAE and the United States, with 32 more nations watching as observers. [1] Indian Tejas fighters and Prachand combat helicopters flew. The ministry said more than 20,000 people came to the open day. The Defence Minister addressed the participants on 10 October. [1] [14] [17] ## At sea: both sides of the world at once In the same weeks the Navy was in three oceans. INS Trishul exercised with the Royal Navy's HMS Sutherland off Plymouth in Britain from 8 to 15 October, including submarine hunting and weapon firings. [2] INS Tarkash was off South Africa for IBSAMAR IX with Brazil and South Africa, which ended at Simon's Town on 20 October. INS Sahyadri exercised with Russia's navy at Vladivostok, then sailed to Busan in South Korea, arriving on 26 October. [4] [3] [5] [8] Closer to home, SIMBEX with Singapore ran from 21 to 26 October off Visakhapatnam. It was the 33rd edition of an exercise that began in 1994. [7] [12] ## On land: mountains, coasts and jungles Mountain Guardian with the UAE trained 92 soldiers in mountain warfare at Chaubatia in Uttarakhand, including drone operations and surveillance. [6] AUSTRAHIND with Australia put about 120 soldiers from each army through island and coastal operations at Thiruvananthapuram. Garuda Shakti, with Indonesia's special forces, began on 27 October in Banyuwangi, focused on jungle operations. [10] [11] ## The turn: from taking part to taking charge One handover in Bahrain changed the picture. On 14 October the Navy gave up command of Combined Task Force 154, a multinational training force it had led since 11 February 2026. [13] It was the first time an Indian Navy contingent had commanded a Combined Maritime Forces task force. In that time, the ministry said, it ran more than 7,800 training hours with personnel from 39 countries. India was not just joining the rehearsal. It was running it. [13] ## A first in India's own waters The month ended with another first. On 30 October the inaugural BIMSTEC Maritime Security Exercise began, bringing together the seven nations around the Bay of Bengal: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. [9] It is hosted by the Andaman and Nicobar Command in the islands, close to the Bay of Bengal sea lanes. Sri Lanka's navy said its ship SLNS Gajabahu arrived to take part. [9] [16] [15] ## What exercises cannot tell you Exercises show intent and familiarity, not fighting power. The releases describe what was practised but give no verdict on how well it went, and the services do not publish one. The releases also do not list every ship and aircraft, and we could not confirm from an official source how many Indian personnel took part in the BIMSTEC exercise. ## What to watch next - The end of the BIMSTEC exercise on 3 November, and whether it becomes a regular event. - The close of Garuda Shakti with Indonesia on 6 November. - Whether India takes command of another Combined Maritime Forces task force. ## Sources 1. [Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026: Power in Partnership, Strength in Self-Reliance](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2322365) (Ministry of Defence via PIB, official) 2. [Exercise KONKAN-26 concludes off Plymouth, UK](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2324800) (Ministry of Defence via PIB, official) 3. [INS Sahyadri arrives at Vladivostok, Russia, for bilateral exercise INDRA-2026](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2321926) (Ministry of Defence via PIB, official) 4. [Conclusion of the ninth edition of India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime Exercise (IBSAMAR IX 2026)](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326117) (Ministry of Defence via PIB, official) 5. [Conclusion of India-Russia bilateral naval exercise (INDRA 2026)](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2327353) (Ministry of Defence via PIB, official) 6. [India-UAE Joint Military Exercise MOUNTAIN GUARDIAN 2026 commences in Uttarakhand](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2319135) (Ministry of Defence via PIB, official) 7. [33rd edition of Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX-2026) commences at Visakhapatnam](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2326348) (Ministry of Defence via PIB, official) 8. [INS Sahyadri arrives at Busan, Republic of Korea, for India-RoKN bilateral exercise](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2329562) (Ministry of Defence via PIB, official) 9. [Inaugural BIMSTEC Maritime Security Exercise](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2330850) (Ministry of Defence via PIB, official) 10. [5th edition of India-Australia Joint Military Exercise AUSTRAHIND commences at Thiruvananthapuram](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2325246) (Ministry of Defence via PIB, official) 11. [India-Indonesia Joint Special Forces Exercise](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2328954) (Ministry of Defence via PIB, official) 12. [Conclusion of 33rd edition of Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX-2026)](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2329151) (Ministry of Defence via PIB, official) 13. [Indian Navy completes maiden command of Combined Task Force 154](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2323572) (Ministry of Defence via PIB, official) 14. [Raksha Mantri addresses participants of Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 at Jodhpur](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2321694) (Ministry of Defence via PIB, official) 15. [SLNS Gajabahu arrives in Andaman and Nicobar Islands for BIMSTEC 2026 exercise](https://news.navy.lk/event-news/2026/october/slns-gajabahu-arrives-in-andaman-and-nicobar-islands-for-bimstec-2026-exercise.html) (Sri Lanka Navy, news report, context only) 16. [India hosts BIMSTEC Maritime Security Exercise in Andaman and Nicobar Islands](https://newsonair.gov.in/india-hosts-bimstec-maritime-security-exercise-in-andaman-and-nicobar-islands/) (All India Radio News, official) 17. [Tarang Shakti 2026](https://www.uniindia.com/national/defence-tarang-shakti-2026/211538) (UNI, news report, context only)