List of Military Exercise of India (Updated 2025): Country-Wise Partners, Months, and What Each Drill Trains
Why these exercises matter
Military drills are not just ceremonies. They build real skills: joint planning, mountain warfare, amphibious operations, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), air defence, counter-terror, and disaster relief. A practical list of military exercise of india shows how India improves interoperability with partners and tests tactics in realistic conditions. The more you read the military exercise of india schedule, the more you will see a pattern: high-altitude learning with cold-weather partners, maritime focus in the Indo-Pacific, and steady neighbourhood cooperation.
2025 month-wise overview
Below is a clean month-wise list of military exercise of india. Dates may vary year to year, but the months and sequences help you plan study time and follow news.
January
Surya Kiran (India–Nepal, Army): High-altitude and hill infantry training, section-level drills, and people-to-people bonding. A classic entry in the list of military exercise of india for neighbours.
Sahyog HOP (Coast Guard/Maritime, India-centric with partners): Maritime search and rescue, pollution response, and coastal security coordination.
February
Ekuverin (India–Maldives, Army): Island security, counter-insurgency in littoral terrain, quick reaction drills, and HADR. This often appears early in the list of military exercise of india.
Cyclone (India–Egypt, Army/Special Forces): Desert warfare, live-fire integration, and small-team tactics.
March
Dharma Guardian (India–Japan, Army): Urban and jungle tactics, platoon-level planning, and communications. A must-know in any list of military exercise of india focused on Indo-Pacific partners.
Varuna (India–France, Navy): Carrier and escort tactics, ASW, air defence at sea, and complex maritime manoeuvres.
Sea Dragon (Multilateral maritime patrol with India participating, Air/ASW): Long-range maritime surveillance and anti-submarine coordination.
Khanjar (India–Kyrgyzstan, Army): Mountain warfare, survival, and counter-terror in high terrain.
Bongosagar + CORPAT (India–Bangladesh, Navy): Maritime domain awareness, sea-lane security, and coordinated patrols.
April
Tiger Triumph (India–USA, Tri-Service): Amphibious operations and HADR on India’s eastern seaboard. This is one of the few tri-service fixtures in the list of military exercise of india.
May
Dustlik (India–Uzbekistan, Army): Urban counter-terror, room intervention, and close-quarter battle basics.
June
AUSINDEX (India–Australia, Navy): Sub-surface tracking, replenishment at sea, and high-end surface tactics.
SINDEX/Desert Knight (India–France, Air Force cycles vary): Advanced air combat training, refuelling, and large force employment.
July
Konkan (India–UK, Navy): Anti-surface and anti-air drills, maritime interdiction, and helicopter ops. A constant in maritime chapters of the list of military exercise of india.
Ajeya Warrior (India–UK, Army): Combined infantry drills, urban operations, and mission planning.
August
Bright Star (Egypt-hosted multilateral with India participating, Tri-Service): Command-post, live-fire, and coalition integration in desert conditions.
Nomadic Elephant (India–Mongolia, Army): Mountain and cold-weather training at platoon/company level.
September
Yudh Abhyas (India–USA, Army): High-altitude training, cold-weather survival, and air-ground integration. Headlines nearly every list of military exercise of india.
ZAPAD series (Russia-hosted multilateral with Indian participation in selected years): Large-formation manoeuvres and joint staff procedures.
October
Malabar (Quad Naval: India, USA, Japan, Australia): Carrier strike integration, ASW, air defence at sea, and complex multi-ship coordination. Central to the oceanic list of military exercise of india.
November
Samudra Shakti (India–Indonesia, Navy): Boarding ops, ASW basics, and maritime cooperation in the eastern IOR.
Shakti (India–France, Army): Company-level infantry coordination and counter-insurgency drills.
December
Mitra Shakti (India–Sri Lanka, Army): Sub-conventional operations, HADR, and civil-military cooperation.
Hand-in-Hand (India–China, Army; status varies by year): Humanitarian drills and basic tactical coordination when conducted.
Note: Many naval CORPATs with Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and others run throughout the year. These short, frequent patrol pairings are the backbone of the maritime military exercise of india pattern.
Exercise Partner Country/ies Service Month (2025) Location (typical/recent) Focus / Notes Surya Kiran Nepal Army Jan India/Nepal (rotational) Hill warfare, small-team infantry drills Sahyog HOP Maritime partners (India-led) Coast Guard/Maritime Jan Indian coast SAR, pollution response, coastal security Ekuverin Maldives Army Feb India/Maldives (rotational) Island security, CI/CT in littoral terrain, HADR Cyclone Egypt Army / Special Forces Feb Rajasthan (India) / Egypt (cycles vary) Desert warfare, SF small-team tactics, live-fire Dharma Guardian Japan Army Mar Japan/India (rotational) Urban/jungle tactics, platoon-level planning Varuna France Navy Mar Arabian Sea/Bay of Bengal/Mediterranean (varies) Carrier/escort tactics, ASW, AAW at sea Sea Dragon Multilateral (U.S., Japan, Australia, ROK, India) Air (MPA/ASW) Mar Guam (U.S.) Long-range maritime patrol, ASW coordination Khanjar Kyrgyzstan Army Mar India/Kyrgyzstan (rotational) Mountain warfare, CT in high terrain Bongosagar + CORPAT Bangladesh Navy/Coast Guard Mar Bay of Bengal MDA, sea-lane security, coordinated patrols Tiger Triumph United States Tri-Service Apr Visakhapatnam/Kakinada (India) Amphibious ops, HADR, joint logistics Dustlik Uzbekistan Army May India/Uzbekistan (rotational) Urban CT, CQB, room intervention AUSINDEX Australia Navy Jun India/Australia (rotational) ASW, surface warfare, RAS SINDEX / Desert Knight France (Air) Air Force Jun India/France (varies) Air combat training, AAR, LFE packages Konkan United Kingdom Navy Jul Arabian Sea/UK waters (rotational) ASuW/AAW, MIO, heli-ops Ajeya Warrior United Kingdom Army Jul India/UK (rotational) Combined infantry, urban ops, mission planning Bright Star Egypt-hosted multilateral (India participates) Tri-Service Aug–Sep Egypt Command-post, live-fire, coalition integration Nomadic Elephant Mongolia Army Aug India/Mongolia (rotational) Mountain/cold-weather infantry drills Yudh Abhyas United States Army Sep India/U.S. (often Alaska/High Alt) High-altitude, cold-weather, air-ground integration ZAPAD (series) Russia-hosted multilateral Joint (Indian contingent) Sep Russia Large-formation manoeuvres, joint staff work Malabar (Quad) U.S., Japan, Australia Navy Oct–Nov Indo-Pacific (rotational) Carrier strike integration, ASW, complex AAW Samudra Shakti Indonesia Navy Nov India/Indonesia (rotational) Boarding ops, ASW basics, maritime cooperation Shakti France Army Nov India/France (rotational) Company-level infantry, CI/CT Mitra Shakti Sri Lanka Army Dec India/Sri Lanka (rotational) Sub-conventional ops, HADR, CIMIC Hand-in-Hand* China* Army Dec* India/China (rotational)* HADR/basic tactical drills (status varies by year) Cope India United States Air Force Varies India Air combat training, LFE, interoperability JIMEX Japan Navy Varies India/Japan (rotational) Bilateral naval tactics, comms, ASW SIMBEX Singapore Navy Varies India/Singapore (rotational) Advanced surface/air coordination, ASW Bold Kurukshetra Singapore Army Varies India/Singapore (rotational) Mechanised manoeuvres, CPX Indradhanush United Kingdom Air Force Varies India/UK (rotational) Air combat training, AAR, integrated ops Al Nagah Oman Army Varies Oman/India (rotational) Desert warfare, live-fire Naseem Al Bahr Oman Navy Varies Arabian Sea/Gulf of Oman Surface/air-sea integration Eastern Bridge Oman Air Force Varies Oman/India (rotational) DACT, AAR, EW Al Mohed Al Hindi Saudi Arabia Navy Varies Red Sea/Arabian Sea Maritime security, boarding Zayed Talwar UAE Navy Varies Arabian Gulf/Arabian Sea Surface warfare, VBSS IBSAMAR Brazil, South Africa Navy Varies Southern Atlantic/Indian Ocean Blue-water ops, multi-ship drills Cutlass/Obangame Express (participation) East/West Africa (U.S./Africa-led) Navy Varies African littorals Maritime security exercises (as participant) Garuda Shakti Indonesia Army Varies India/Indonesia (rotational) Jungle warfare, CT Maitree Thailand Army Varies India/Thailand (rotational) Jungle ops, company-level planning IMCOR / CORPAT (IMBL) Myanmar Navy Varies Andaman Sea Maritime security, interdiction Harimau Shakti Malaysia Army Varies India/Malaysia (rotational) Jungle/small-unit tactics VINBAX Vietnam Army Varies India/Vietnam (rotational) Engineering tasks, HADR AustraHind Australia Army Varies India/Australia (rotational) Combined infantry, high-tempo drills INDRA (format varies) Russia Joint / Tri-Service (cycles) Varies India/Russia (rotational) Staff planning, combined drills SLINEX Sri Lanka Navy Varies India/Sri Lanka (rotational) Surface warfare, boarding/VBSS Sampriti Bangladesh Army Varies India/Bangladesh (rotational) Sub-conventional ops, HADR Al Meghbar / Desert Eagle (UAE Air cycles) UAE Air Force Varies UAE/India (rotational) DACT, EW (nomenclature varies by cycle)
Country-wise quick finder (keep this for viva and MCQs)
This section rearranges the list of military exercise of india partner by partner so you can revise fast.
United States
Tiger Triumph (Tri-Service) – amphibious and HADR.
Yudh Abhyas (Army) – high-altitude, cold-weather, and air-ground integration.
Cope India (Air Force) – air combat training and large force employment.
Malabar (with Quad, Navy) – carrier and ASW focus.
Japan
Dharma Guardian (Army) – infantry, urban/jungle.
Malabar (Naval, Quad) – blue-water integration.
JIMEX (Navy) – bilateral naval tactics and communications.
France
Varuna (Navy) – high-end maritime operations.
Shakti (Army) – counter-insurgency, company-level drills.
Garuda/Desert Knight (Air Force cycles) – air combat and refuelling.
Australia
AUSINDEX (Navy) – ASW and surface warfare.
Malabar (Quad, Navy) – carrier/escort operations.
AustraHind (Army) – combined infantry and high-tempo drills.
United Kingdom
Konkan (Navy) – interdiction and air defence at sea.
Ajeya Warrior (Army) – urban operations and mission planning.
Indradhanush (Air Force) – air combat training.
Russia
INDRA (Joint/Tri-Service format in some editions) – staff planning and combined drills.
ZAPAD series (Multilateral) – large-formation manoeuvres.
Bangladesh
Bongosagar (Navy) – maritime domain awareness.
CORPAT (Navy/Coast Guard) – coordinated patrols.
Sampriti (Army) – sub-conventional and HADR.
Sri Lanka
Mitra Shakti (Army) – counter-insurgency and civil-military tasks.
SLINEX (Navy) – surface warfare and boarding ops.
Nepal
Surya Kiran (Army) – hill warfare, small-team tactics, and bonding.
Maldives
Ekuverin (Army) – island security and HADR.
Indonesia
Garuda Shakti (Army) – jungle and CT operations.
Samudra Shakti (Navy) – maritime cooperation and boarding.
Thailand
Maitree (Army) – jungle operations and company-level planning.
CORPAT (Navy) – regular patrol pairing in the Andaman Sea.
Myanmar
IMCOR/CORPAT (Navy) – maritime security and interdiction.
Singapore
Bold Kurukshetra (Army) – mechanised manoeuvres.
SIMBEX (Navy) – advanced surface/air coordination.
Air exchanges (cycles vary) – air defence and large force packages.
Uzbekistan
Dustlik (Army) – urban counter-terror and CQB.
Kyrgyzstan
Khanjar (Army) – mountain warfare and survival.
Mongolia
Nomadic Elephant (Army) – cold-weather infantry drills.
Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam (selected cycles)
Harimau Shakti (Malaysia, Army) – jungle and small-unit tactics.
VINBAX (Vietnam, Army) – engineering, HADR, and field tasks.
Gulf and West Asia
Al Nagah (Oman, Army) – desert and live-fire.
Naseem Al Bahr (Oman, Navy) – surface/air-sea integration.
Eastern Bridge (Oman, Air) – air combat and refuelling.
Al Mohed Al Hindi (Saudi Arabia, Navy) – maritime security.
Zayed Talwar (UAE, Navy) – surface warfare and boarding.
Desert Eagle/other air cycles (UAE, Air) – air combat and EW.
Africa (selected cycles)
IBSAMAR (Brazil–South Africa–India, Navy) – blue-water operations off southern Africa.
Cutlass Express/Obangame Express participation (maritime) – maritime security with African partners (participation varies).
This broad partner map turns a long list of military exercise of india into country-wise memory chunks.
What each service is honing in 2025
A careful read of the military exercise of india calendar shows how each service invests its time.
Indian Army
High-altitude and cold-weather with the U.S. and partners (Yudh Abhyas).
Urban CT and CQB with Central Asian friends (Dustlik) and European partners.
Mountain warfare with Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia (Khanjar, Nomadic Elephant).
Neighbourhood confidence building with Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh (Surya Kiran, Mitra Shakti, Sampriti).
This Army-focused list of military exercise of india shows a balance between traditional warfighting and hybrid threats.
Indian Navy
Carrier and escort operations with France and Quad partners (Varuna, Malabar).
ASW and maritime domain awareness with Bangladesh, Indonesia, and others (Bongosagar, Samudra Shakti, CORPATs).
Amphibious and HADR inside tri-service drills (Tiger Triumph).
The naval list of military exercise of india underlines a steady Indo-Pacific and IOR emphasis.
Indian Air Force
Large force employment and refuelling with France and the U.S. (Garuda/Desert Knight, Cope India).
Maritime patrol ASW coordination in multilateral formats (Sea Dragon).
Air defence and integration with the UK and regional partners (Indradhanush and other cycles).
Read any air-domain list of military exercise of india and you will see growing complexity in multi-nation air packages.
Tri-Service Integration
Tiger Triumph and INDRA-format drills show joint planning, amphibious logistics, and disaster response at scale. This joint thread strongly ties together the broader list of military exercise of india.
How to memorise the names quickly
“Cold Alaska, Warm Coasts” – Yudh Abhyas is your cold-weather marker; Tiger Triumph is your warm coastal amphibious anchor in the list of military exercise of india.
“Mount Fuji & Mountain Friends” – Dharma Guardian (Japan) plus Khanjar (Kyrgyzstan) forms your mountain cluster for the military exercise of india calendar.
“Sea Trio” – Varuna (France), Malabar (Quad), Sea Dragon (multilateral ASW) together pull the naval list of military exercise of india into one mental picture.
“Desert Duo” – Cyclone (Egypt) and Al Nagah (Oman) remind you of desert live-fire within the military exercise of india cycle.
“Neighbours First” – Surya Kiran (Nepal), Mitra Shakti (Sri Lanka), Sampriti and Bongosagar (Bangladesh) anchor the neighbourhood slice of the list of military exercise of india.
Frequently asked questions
Q1. Which are the biggest highlights in 2025?
Yudh Abhyas, Tiger Triumph, Varuna, Malabar, Sea Dragon, and India’s participation in large multilateral drills like Bright Star or the ZAPAD series. These form the headline core of any list of military exercise of india.
Q2. Which naval exercises should I learn first?
Varuna, Malabar, Bongosagar, SIMBEX, and regular CORPATs. These define the maritime military exercise of india focus on ASW, sea control, and cooperation with neighbours.
Q3. What do we train with Japan and the United States?
With Japan: infantry integration and Quad maritime synergy (Dharma Guardian, Malabar).
With the U.S.: cold-weather land ops, amphibious/HADR, and multilateral ASW (Yudh Abhyas, Tiger Triumph, Sea Dragon). These are central in any list of military exercise of india.
Q4. Are there multilateral drills beyond the Quad?
Yes. Bright Star and the ZAPAD series are key examples. They help India practise coalition planning, which you will always see highlighted in the military exercise of india round-ups.
Q5. How do CORPATs fit in?
Coordinated patrols run frequently with multiple neighbours and keep the sea lanes safe. They are small but constant, and they are the backbone of a practical list of military exercise of india for the Indian Ocean Region.
One-minute summary for interviews
If you need a crisp statement, say: The 2025 list of military exercise of india shows cold-weather and high-altitude learning with the U.S., amphibious and HADR integration on the east coast with tri-service partners, advanced ASW and carrier tactics with France and Quad navies, steady neighbourhood trust-building with Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and regular maritime patrols across the IOR. This single thought captures the intent behind the military exercise of india: readiness through realism, discipline, and partnerships.
Final thoughts: how to study this efficiently
Map by month: Build a small calendar wall-chart from this list of military exercise of india and revise weekly.
Group by partner: Make flashcards—U.S., Japan, France, Australia, Russia, UK, neighbourhood, Central Asia. This collapses a long military exercise of india list into memory chunks.
Connect to capability: For each entry, write one line on what it trains (ASW, amphibious, mountain, urban CT). Your answers will sound confident and practical.
Track changes: Schedules shift. Keep your own short notebook version of the list of military exercise of india so you can update months or venues whenever needed.
Practice narration: Say the military exercise of india highlights aloud once a week. In interviews and GDs, recall becomes smooth.
