Indian and French armies are once again demonstrating their combined military strength at Camp de La Cavalerie in La Cavalerie, southern France. This bilateral military exercise, named 'Exercise Shakti-2025', commenced on June 18th and will continue until July 1st. The Indian Army is represented by 90 soldiers from the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles Battalion, while the French side includes soldiers from the Demi-Brigade de Légion Étrangère.
This exercise is being conducted with the aim of further strengthening India-France defense relations. It has become a valuable opportunity to assess the efficiency, mutual coordination, and technical capabilities of both armies in joint combat operations. Emphasis is being placed on joint training, particularly in counter-terrorism operations and dealing with urban warfare scenarios.
Real-time practice of modern warfare techniques
In Exercise Shakti-2025, the armies of both countries have jointly practiced modern warfare techniques. This includes combat operations in difficult terrains, joint patrols, strategies to neutralize combat aircraft, and military entry techniques. Furthermore, specialized military units from both countries have worked on advanced operations such as electronic warfare (EW), counter-drone systems (C-UAS), signal interception, jamming, and spectrum control.
The army stated that the main highlight of this exercise was a 96-hour real-time war simulation, which rigorously tested the strategic thinking, decision-making ability, and mission execution efficiency of the soldiers. Such exercises better prepare the armies of both countries to deal with complex challenges in the future.
Active participation of female military officers
Female Indian military officers also played a significant role in Exercise Shakti-2025. Major Navneet Sandhu stated that she trained with French soldiers in areas such as signal interception, jamming, spectrum control, and real-time communication. She said that this exercise not only enhances military skills but also strengthens mutual understanding and trust between India and France.
Similarly, Major Abhishek Chandel, while appreciating the technical aspects of the exercise, said that by including electronic warfare in the mission profile, soldiers have learned modern combat skills in a better way.
India's Ambassador boosted the morale of the soldiers
Sanjeev Singla, the Indian Ambassador to France, also visited the exercise and met with Indian soldiers. Appreciating the level of coordination and training between the two armies, he said that the Shakti exercise is not just a military exercise but an important step towards strengthening bilateral strategic relations.
Ambassador Singla described it as an exercise that would give new heights to defense and technical cooperation between India and France. Praising the enthusiasm and dedication of the soldiers, he said that this exercise will further strengthen the security partnership between the two countries in the coming years.
Exercise Shakti-2025 demonstrates trust, harmony, and combat readiness between the Indian and French armies. It is not merely a military activity but also a platform for sharing global security perspectives between two strategic partners. The professional capabilities of the Indian Army and the strategic expertise of the French Army make this exercise even more significant.
