During a week in mid-August, Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 brought French-built delta-wing fighters flown by Indian pilots into Malaysian airspace to spar with Russian-built Flankers and American Hornets. The biennial drill at Subang Air Base marked the first time the Rafale participated in the bilateral exercise since India inducted it in 2020.
Dissimilar Air Combat and Mixed Fleets at Subang Air Base
The exercise featured four Rafales from the Indian Air Force’s 101 Squadron, supported by two C-17 Globemaster III transports from 81 Squadron, interacting directly with the Royal Malaysian Air Force inventory. The Malaysian military deployed its Su-30MKMs alongside F/A-18D Hornets and A400Ms. This lineup created a rare dissimilar air combat environment involving approximately 83 personnel and 11 aircraft.
Pilots engaged in complex tactical scenarios designed to test sensor integration and energy management across vastly different airframes. A Rafale pilot rarely gets to train against a Flanker’s brute thrust and enormous radar signature, while Malaysian pilots gained direct exposure to the French jet’s tight delta and electronic-warfare suite. Official statements from the Indian Air Force noted that the drills focused on dissimilar air combat, air-to-air refuelling, and doctrine exchange.
Defense Diplomacy and the Rafale’s Regional Footprint
Beyond tactical interoperability, the deployment carries clear commercial and strategic subtexts. Because Malaysia faces the task of updating an older fighter inventory, New Delhi has stepped up as an enthusiastic promoter of the Rafale to forge diplomatic ties. Exhibiting the aircraft right in front of a prospective buyer while flying alongside that nation’s own hardware amounts to subtle aerial diplomacy. These exercises fit a wider pattern where India is deepening defence ties across Southeast Asia, and the Rafale is central to that outreach.
Did you know?
Operating Russian Su-30MKMs and American F/A-18Ds in parallel gives the Royal Malaysian Air Force a remarkably mixed composition that few global air arms can equal, turning Subang into a premier testing ground for the joint operations both nations desire.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the primary objective of Exercise Udara Shakti 2026?
The drills successfully boosted teamwork, shared expertise, and professional rapport, thereby strengthening the lasting ties of partnership and mutual support connecting the two air arms.
Which aircraft did the Indian Air Force deploy to Malaysia?
Dispatching aircraft from 101 Squadron, the Indian Air Force sent four Rafales to Subang Air Base, accompanied by a pair of C-17 Globemaster III cargo planes from 81 Squadron.
Has the Rafale participated in Udara Shakti before?
No, it was the Rafale’s first appearance in this drill since India inducted it in 2020.
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