Paris [France], June 28 (ANI): The Indian Army contingent showcased advanced tactical skills and interoperability during the ongoing Indo-French Joint Military Exercise SHAKTI-VIII at Camp Larzac in La Cavalerie, southern France. The biennial drill continues to reinforce operational coordination and mutual trust between the Indian and French armed forces.
This year’s edition of Exercise SHAKTI features the participation of 90 Indian Army personnel, primarily drawn from a battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, operating alongside the French Army’s famed 13e Demi-Brigade de Légion Étrangère (13th Half-Brigade of the Foreign Legion).
The training focuses on sub-conventional warfare and mission-specific operations, with joint teams undertaking rigorous exercises in combat shooting within semi-urban terrain, obstacle navigation, urban warfare tactics, and coordinated patrols. The drills were conducted under high-fidelity operational conditions to sharpen decision-making, endurance, and team cohesion in complex battlefield environments.
In a significant component of the training, specialist detachments from both sides conducted Electronic Warfare (EW) and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) exercises. These sessions involved signal interception, jamming, spectrum dominance, and drone neutralisation—skills crucial for modern warfare, particularly in electronically contested zones.
A key highlight of SHAKTI-VIII was the 96-hour high-intensity joint field exercise that simulated multi-domain operations under sustained combat stress. The field phase tested joint mission planning, rapid troop deployment, cross-functional coordination, and integrated command execution, offering vital insights into real-time interoperability.
Adding diplomatic momentum to the military partnership, Ambassador of India to France and Monaco, Sanjeev Singla, visited the Indian troops during the exercise. He interacted with the contingent, commended their professionalism, and reiterated India’s commitment to deepening strategic cooperation with France. His visit was welcomed as a morale booster and a reaffirmation of the growing India-France defence relationship.
Exercise SHAKTI-VIII continues to serve as a crucial platform for sharing best practices, advancing joint combat readiness, and enhancing mutual understanding between two like-minded democratic nations. As India and France expand their strategic alignment, military collaborations such as SHAKTI play an essential role in fostering regional stability and global security. (ANI)
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