WATCH: Indian, French Armies Conduct Joint Drills As Part Of Exercise Shakti VIII

The eighth edition of the Indo-French joint military exercise, SHAKTI-VIII, is currently underway in southern France, with Indian and French troops conducting intensive joint operations to enhance tactical cooperation and mission readiness.

Held at Camp Larzac, La Cavalerie, the exercise features the Indian Army’s Jammu and Kashmir Rifles battalion alongside France’s 13e Foreign Legion Half-Brigade (13e DBLE). Both contingents are engaging in high-tempo training activities aimed at improving interoperability and response to sub-conventional threats.

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What are the key components of Exercise SHAKTI-VIII?

SHAKTI-VIII features a wide spectrum of training modules, including combat shooting in semi-developed terrain, obstacle navigation, joint mission planning, and advanced close-combat drills.

Indian soldiers are showcasing the adaptability and precision of new-generation indigenous weapon systems, while the French troops are fielding battle-tested small arms known for durability and accuracy.

Live-fire drills and joint tactical manoeuvres have been conducted to simulate realistic battlefield scenarios, with both sides demonstrating high degrees of synchronisation and operational fluency. Troops are also undergoing advanced obstacle course training designed to build unit cohesion and combat stamina.

Are there any specialised modern warfare drills in this edition?

A notable feature of SHAKTI-VIII is its dedicated focus on Electronic Warfare (EW) and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS).

Both forces have conducted joint EW drills to build electromagnetic superiority and secure battlefield communications. In parallel, C-UAS operations involved live demonstrations of drone detection and neutralisation technologies, equipping soldiers with the ability to counter low-cost aerial threats in future conflicts.

Planning elements have also been upgraded. Joint teams are executing the Military Decision-Making Process (MDMP), which sharpens real-time command decision-making, enhances mission integration, and enables coordinated tasking across mixed combat units.

What does this exercise mean for India-France defence cooperation?

SHAKTI-VIII shows the growing strategic alignment between India and France, particularly in defence collaboration, technological exchange, and regional security efforts.

The exercise is strengthening military interoperability and also acting as a platform for exchanging battle-tested tactics and procedures. With both countries facing evolving security challenges in the Indo-Pacific and beyond, SHAKTI-VIII affirms their shared commitment to maintaining operational readiness and defence partnership through sustained joint training.

SHAKTI-VIII is expected to conclude later this month, with final exercises involving integrated tactical missions in simulated high-threat environments.