India, French troops showcase joint combat readiness in ongoing exercise SHAKTI-VIII
New Delhi, Jun 28: The Indian Army contingent participating in Exercise SHAKTI-VIII in southern France has demonstrated high levels of tactical proficiency and joint coordination alongside their French counterparts, as the bilateral military drill continues to deepen Indo-French defence cooperation. The ongoing exercise, being held at Camp Larzac in La Cavalerie, features 90 personnel from the Indian Army’s Jammu and Kashmir Rifles battalion working closely with the French Army’s 13e Demi-Brigade de Légion Étrangère. It focuses on mission-oriented training specific to sub-conventional warfare in semi-urban and complex terrain.
Troops from both nations have undertaken a range of drills including combat shooting, obstacle navigation, joint patrols, and urban warfare manoeuvres.
The training modules have been conducted under realistic operational settings, designed to enhance adaptability and mission effectiveness in high-stress environments. Significantly, specialist teams have collaborated on Electronic Warfare (EW) and Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) operations. This involved signal interception, jamming, spectrum management, and drone neutralisation techniques—vital skills for modern combat in contested electromagnetic domains.
“A key highlight of the engagement was the successful conduct of a high-intensity 96-hour joint field exercise, simulating multi-domain operations under sustained, high-pressure conditions. This phase tested endurance, decision-making, and coordination across command levels, yielding critical insights into joint mission execution, tactical flexibility, and cross-functional integration,” said Lt Col Suneel Bartwal, PRO & Spokesperson, Ministry of Defence, Jammu. The Indian contingent also received a morale boost with a visit from India’s Ambassador to France and Monaco, Amb Sanjeev Singla. He interacted with the troops, commended their professionalism, and underscored the importance of the exercise in strengthening bilateral defence ties. Exercise SHAKTI-VIII continues to serve as a key platform for sharing best practices, refining interoperable capabilities, and enhancing military-to-military trust between India and France. It is also seen as contributing to broader regional stability and strategic convergence.
