Exercise Udara Shakti 2026: India-Malaysia Bilateral Air Exercise with Rafale and Su-30MKM — UPSC Defence Guide
Exercise Udara Shakti 2026, the biennial India-Malaysia bilateral air exercise, was conducted from August 10–14, 2026, at Subang Air Base, Malaysia. For the first time, the Indian Air Force deployed Dassault Rafale fighters (replacing Su-30MKI), flying dissimilar air combat training sorties against Royal Malaysian Air Force Su-30MKM and F/A-18D Hornets. The exercise involved 83 personnel and 11 aircraft from both nations.
At a glance
Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 concluded August 14, 2026 at Subang Air Base, Malaysia. IAF deployed Rafale for first time in this exercise (replacing Su-30MKI). Biennial India-Malaysia bilateral air exercise.
Dates: Aug 10-14, 2026 | Location: Subang Air Base, Selangor | Personnel: 83 | Aircraft: 11 (4 IAF Rafale + 2 C-17 | 2 RMAF Su-30MKM + 2 F/A-18D + 1 A400M)
DBFM (Dissimilar Basic Fighter Manoeuvres), DACT (Dissimilar Air Combat Training), Air-to-Air Refuelling, PHOTEX, SME exchanges
India's Act East Policy; Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Malaysia (2023); Rafale vs Su-30MKM DACT signals IAF's Indo-Pacific projection capability
Timeline
Why in News
The biennial India-Malaysia bilateral air exercise Udara Shakti 2026 concluded successfully on August 14, 2026 at Subang Air Base, Selangor, Malaysia (August 10–14, 2026; flying phase August 11–13). The exercise marked a landmark milestone: for the first time, the Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed Dassault Rafale multi-role fighters (replacing Su-30MKI jets used in all previous editions) in the exercise, flying Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT) sorties against the Royal Malaysian Air Force's (RMAF's) Sukhoi Su-30MKM Flanker fighters and Boeing F/A-18D Hornet jets. The exercise strengthens India's defence partnership with Malaysia under India's Act East Policy and its broader Indo-Pacific engagement framework.
Background
India-Malaysia Defence Relations
India and Malaysia share a comprehensive defence partnership underpinned by a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership upgraded in 2023. Key pillars of bilateral defence cooperation include: joint exercises (Udara Shakti for air forces; HARIMAU SHAKTI for armies), hydrographic surveys, maritime cooperation in the Strait of Malacca and the Andaman Sea, defence equipment and technology sharing, and training exchanges at defence academies. Both nations are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) framework (India as a dialogue partner) and share interests in freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.
About Exercise Udara Shakti
Exercise Udara Shakti — "udara" (उदर/उदर, Sanskrit/Malay: sky/air, "shakti": power) — is a biennial bilateral air exercise between the IAF and RMAF. The exercise has been conducted approximately every two years since its inaugural edition in 2018. The 2020 edition was not held (attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic). Previous editions (2018, 2022, 2024) saw IAF deploying Su-30MKI fighters; the 2026 edition is the first since the IAF's Rafale induction in September 2020 to feature Rafale jets in a bilateral exercise with Malaysia.
Current Developments
Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 — Key Details
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dates | August 10–14, 2026 (flying phase: August 11–13) |
| Location | Subang Air Base, Selangor, Malaysia |
| Personnel | 83 (IAF + RMAF combined) |
| Aircraft (total) | 11 (6 IAF + 5 RMAF) |
| IAF Exercise Director | Group Captain Parijat Jha |
| RMAF Exercise Director | Colonel Shamsul Shahreen bin Isa |
| Indian Defence Adviser | Colonel Praveen Sukumaran |
Aircraft Deployed
| Force | Aircraft | Squadron |
|---|---|---|
| IAF | 4 × Dassault Rafale | No. 101 Squadron "Falcons" |
| IAF | 2 × Boeing C-17 Globemaster III | No. 81 Squadron |
| RMAF | 2 × Sukhoi Su-30MKM | No. 12 Squadron |
| RMAF | 2 × Boeing F/A-18D Hornet | No. 18 Squadron |
| RMAF | 1 × Airbus A400M Atlas | No. 8 Squadron |
Training Activities Conducted
- Dissimilar Basic Fighter Manoeuvres (DBFM): Tactics training against fighters with different performance envelopes — Rafale vs Su-30MKM engagements are highly valuable due to the contrasting avionics (SPECTRA EW suite, RBE2 AESA radar on Rafale vs Bars PESA radar and AL-31 engines on Su-30MKM)
- Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT): Simulated within-visual-range (WVR) and beyond-visual-range (BVR) combat scenarios between IAF and RMAF fighters
- Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR): Practice of aerial refuelling procedures — critical for long-range Rafale deployments in Indo-Pacific operations
- Aerial Photography Missions (PHOTEX): Coordinated formation flying and airspace management
- Subject Matter Expert (SME) Exchanges: Operational planning, electronic warfare concepts, and safety procedures
Key Facts
- Exercise Udara Shakti: biennial; inaugural edition 2018; 2020 not held (COVID); editions: 2018, 2022, 2024, 2026
- 2026 edition: first Rafale deployment in Udara Shakti; Rafale inducted into IAF in September 2020
- Rafale deployed from IAF No. 101 Squadron "Falcons" (Golden Arrows)
- RMAF Su-30MKM is the same Flanker family as IAF's Su-30MKI; both share common airframe heritage (Sukhoi Design Bureau) but have different avionics
- India-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership upgraded: 2023
- India's Act East Policy launched: 2014 (transformed from Look East Policy)
- HARIMAU SHAKTI: the parallel India-Malaysia Army exercise (separate from Udara Shakti)
- India-Malaysia bilateral trade: approximately US$20–22 billion (FY 2025-26)
Constitutional Provisions
- Article 53: Supreme command of the Defence Forces vested in the President — international military exercises are authorised under executive powers
- Article 246, Entry 1, List I: Defence of India — Union subject; Parliament legislates on defence forces
- Article 73: Executive power of Union extends to international agreements and defence matters
Institutional Framework
- Indian Air Force (IAF): Air Chief Marshal as Chief; exercises managed by Air HQ under Ministry of Defence
- Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF / Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia): Malaysian counterpart
- Ministry of Defence, India: Policy oversight; bilateral defence cooperation agreements signed at ministerial level
- ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM-Plus): Multilateral platform through which India-Malaysia defence exercises are contextualised within the broader Indo-Pacific security architecture
International Relations Analysis
India's Act East Policy
Announced in 2014 by PM Narendra Modi at the East Asia Summit in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, the Act East Policy replaced the earlier "Look East Policy" (1991) with a more proactive and security-focused engagement with ASEAN and the broader Indo-Pacific region. Key pillars: connectivity (India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, Act East economic corridors), trade (India-ASEAN FTA), security cooperation (maritime and air exercises, intelligence sharing), and people-to-people ties. Udara Shakti 2026 directly operationalises the security pillar — placing IAF Rafales in Malaysian airspace signals India's readiness to be a net security provider in the region.
Rafale's Strategic Signal
Malaysia operates the Su-30MKM — essentially the same Sukhoi-30 family as India's Su-30MKI, meaning RMAF pilots and Indian pilots share a baseline familiarity with this platform. The DACT between Rafale and Su-30MKM produces tactical intelligence valuable to both sides: the IAF learns how the Rafale's systems perform against the Flanker family in contested airspace, and RMAF gains exposure to Rafale capabilities. Geopolitically, the Rafale's deployment also demonstrates India's ability to project advanced airpower across the Indo-Pacific — reinforcing India's position as a credible defence partner for ASEAN nations concerned about regional power dynamics.
South China Sea Context
Malaysia is a claimant in the South China Sea dispute (overlapping claims with China in the Spratly Islands and Exclusive Economic Zone). India has consistently supported freedom of navigation and overflight and a rules-based international order in the South China Sea — without naming China explicitly — positions that align with Malaysia's strategic interests. Udara Shakti deepens the defence relationship at a time when both countries benefit from a stable, open Indo-Pacific.
Economic Dimensions
India-Malaysia bilateral trade is approximately US$20–22 billion annually. Malaysia is India's 2nd largest trading partner in ASEAN. Malaysia is a major source of palm oil for India (India is the world's largest palm oil importer; Malaysia and Indonesia together supply ~85% of global trade). Defence cooperation opens the prospect of co-production and technology transfer — particularly relevant if Malaysia's RMAF looks to augment its fighter fleet in the coming decade and India's defence export ambitions (target: ₹50,000 crore exports by 2028-29) align with that opportunity.
Way Forward
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence and the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) have consistently recommended institutionalising India's bilateral air exercises at annual frequency with key partners (currently many are biennial) and deepening them with joint maritime air operations. For India-Malaysia specifically: advancing towards a Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) similar to those signed with the US, Japan, Australia, and France would allow IAF aircraft to access Malaysian bases for servicing during Indo-Pacific deployments — a significant force-multiplier for India's eastward reach.
Possible Mains Questions
- "India's Act East Policy has evolved from an economic partnership to a security partnership framework with ASEAN nations. Critically examine this evolution with reference to recent bilateral defence exercises. (GS-II, 15 marks)"
- "The deployment of IAF Rafale jets in Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 carries both operational and geopolitical significance. Analyse. (GS-II/GS-III, 10 marks)"
Possible Prelims MCQs
- Q. Exercise Udara Shakti is a bilateral air exercise between India and which country?
A. Thailand B. Vietnam C. Malaysia D. Indonesia
Answer: C - Q. In Exercise Udara Shakti 2026, the IAF deployed which fighter aircraft for the first time in this exercise?
A. Su-30MKI B. Tejas Mk1A C. Dassault Rafale D. MiG-29UPG
Answer: C — The 2026 edition was the first time IAF Rafales (No. 101 Squadron) participated in Udara Shakti; previous editions used Su-30MKI. - Q. India's "Act East Policy" was announced at which summit in 2014?
A. G20 Summit in Brisbane B. East Asia Summit in Naypyidaw, Myanmar C. ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur D. SCO Summit in Dushanbe
Answer: B - Q. Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 was held at which air base in Malaysia?
A. Butterworth Air Base B. Kuantan Air Base C. Subang Air Base, Selangor D. Labuan Air Base
Answer: C - Q. The Royal Malaysian Air Force operates which variant of the Su-30 fighter in the Flanker family?
A. Su-30MKI B. Su-30MKA C. Su-30MKM D. Su-30SM
Answer: C — Malaysia operates Su-30MKM (Malaysian variant), while India's IAF flies Su-30MKI (Indian variant). Both are from the same Sukhoi-30 Flanker family but have different avionics suites.
Essay Dimensions
- From Look East to Act East: India's evolving strategic identity in the Indo-Pacific
- Air power projection as soft power: bilateral military exercises and the diplomacy of deterrence
- ASEAN centrality and India's security architecture in Southeast Asia
- The South China Sea and freedom of navigation: India's principled pragmatism
- Defence exports and strategic partnerships: leveraging Make in India for diplomatic influence
Interview Questions
- India has MLSA (Mutual Logistics Support Agreements) with the US, Japan, Australia, and France. Should India negotiate a similar agreement with Malaysia? What would be the strategic gains and risks?
- Both India and Malaysia operate Sukhoi-30 family jets. Does this create an opportunity for deeper defence technology co-production, or does it create a conflict of interest given India's relationship with Russia?
- How does India balance its deepening security engagement with ASEAN nations like Malaysia with China's significant economic presence in Southeast Asia?
- Exercise Udara Shakti occurs every two years. Is this frequency adequate for building genuine air combat interoperability? Compare with how frequently India exercises with Quad partners.
- The Rafale has been described as India's most capable fighter. How does deploying it in multilateral exercises serve India's national interest beyond operational training?
FAQ
- What does "Udara Shakti" mean?
- "Udara" means sky or air (from Sanskrit, and also used in Malay), and "Shakti" means power or strength (Sanskrit). Together, Udara Shakti translates to "Air Power" — an apt name for a bilateral air combat exercise.
- How is Udara Shakti different from HARIMAU SHAKTI?
- HARIMAU SHAKTI is the India-Malaysia bilateral Army exercise (HARIMAU means tiger in Malay). Udara Shakti is the air force equivalent. Both exercises are part of India's defence cooperation framework with Malaysia, but they involve different services and focus on ground combat versus air combat tactics respectively.
- Why is the Rafale-Su30MKM DACT significant?
- Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT) between aircraft with different performance characteristics — the Rafale's delta-wing AESA radar platform vs the Su-30MKM's Flanker airframe — generates tactical insights that training against similar-type aircraft cannot provide. Both nations' air forces learn to understand the other's strengths and weaknesses, improving their overall combat readiness.
Further Reading
- Indian Air Force official website: indianairforce.nic.in
- Ministry of Defence — bilateral defence cooperation: mod.gov.in
- IDSA Brief: "India-Malaysia Defence Relations" — idsa.in
- India's Act East Policy: Ministry of External Affairs — mea.gov.in