Defence Exercises 2025 List
Table of Contents
Questions on defence exercises of India, bilateral & multilateral military drills, and India’s strategic partnerships are frequently asked in APPSC Prelims, interviews, and even essay papers. The defence exercises 2025 list is especially important as it reflects India’s evolving military diplomacy and regional security priorities.
What Are Defence Exercises?
Defence exercises are joint military training programmes conducted between India and other countries to improve combat readiness, interoperability between armed forces and strategic cooperation. They can be Army-only, Navy-only, Air Force-only, or Tri-Service (Army + Navy + Air Force).
Defence Exercises 2025 List (Army)
| Exercise Name | Type | Participating Countries | Date (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ekuverin-XIII | Tri-Service | India – Maldives | 02–15 Feb |
| Cyclone-III | Single Service | India – Egypt | 10–23 Feb |
| Dharma Guardian-VI | Single Service | India – Japan | 24 Feb – 09 Mar |
| Khanjar-XII | Army | India – Kyrgyzstan | 10–23 Mar |
| Tiger Triumph | Tri-Service | India – USA | 01–14 Apr |
| DUSTLIK | Army | India – Uzbekistan | 15–28 Apr |
| IMBAX | Army | India – Myanmar | 22–27 Apr |
| Nomadic Elephant | Army | India – Mongolia | 29 May – 13 Jun |
| Ex Shakti | Army | India – France | 19 Jun – 02 Jul |
| Ex Bold Kurukshetra | Army | India – Singapore | 28 Jul – 04 Aug |
| Ex Bright Star | Multi-Nation | India – Egypt | 28 Aug – 10 Sep |
| Ex Yudh Abhyas | Army | India – USA | 01–14 Sep |
| Ex Maitree | Army | India – Thailand | 01–14 Sep |
| Ex Zapad | Army | India – Russia | 10–16 Sep |
| Ex INDRA (13th Ed.) | Tri-Service | India – Russia | 03–15 Oct |
| Ex AUSTRAHIND | Army | India – Australia | 13–26 Oct |
| Ex Mitra Shakti | Army | India – Sri Lanka | 10–23 Nov |
| Ex VINBAX | Army | India – Vietnam | 10–29 Nov |
| Ex Ajeya Warrior | Army | India – UK | 17–30 Nov |
Defence Exercises 2025 List (Navy)
| Exercise Name | Type | Participating Countries | Date (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| TROPEX-25 | Theatre-level Naval Exercise | India | Jan – Mar |
| Tri-Service Exercise 2025 | Tri-Service | India (IN, IA, IAF, BSF, ICG) | 03 – 13 Nov |
| Tiger Triumph | Tri-Service (Amphibious HADR) | India – USA | 01 – 15 Apr |
| Jalprahar | Amphibious Training Exercise | India (Navy & Army) | Oct (1st week) |
| PASSEX | Naval PASSEX | India – France | 09 Jan |
| ANZAC Tiger | Multinational Maritime Security | Combined Maritime Forces Nations | 27 Mar – 04 Apr |
| Komodo-25 | Multinational Naval Exercise | India + Multiple Nations | 15 – 22 Feb |
| Bongosagar (5th Ed.) | Bilateral Naval Exercise | India – Bangladesh | 10 – 12 Mar |
| Varuna | Bilateral Naval Exercise | India – France | 19 – 22 Mar |
| INDRA (Naval Phase) | Bilateral Naval Exercise | India – Russia | 25 – 29 Mar |
Defence Exercises 2025 List (Air Force)
| Exercise Name | Type | Participating Countries | Date (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ex Iniochos-25 | Multinational Air Exercise | India + Multiple Nations (Greece-led) | 31 Mar – 11 Apr |
| Ex Desert Flag-10 | Multinational Air Exercise | India + UAE + Others | 17 Apr – 12 May |
| Ex Tiger Claw-25 | Air Force Special Forces | India – USA | 26 May – 09 Jun |
| Ex Desert Knight 25.1 | Trilateral Air Exercise | India – UAE – France | 02 Sep |
| MahaGujRaj-25 | National Air Exercise | India | 28 Oct – 11 Nov |
Strategic Significance of Defence Exercises 2025
- Strengthening Global Partnerships: India’s defence exercises span Asia, Europe, Africa, Indo-Pacific and the US, reflecting a multi-alignment strategy rather than bloc politics.
- Focus on Indo-Pacific & Neighbourhood: Exercises with Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam highlight India’s Neighbourhood First and Indo-Pacific vision.
- Rise of Tri-Service Operations: Exercises like Tiger Triumph, INDRA, Ekuverin underline India’s shift toward integrated theatre commands.
Why APPSC Asks This Topic
APPSC increasingly links current affairs + static defence concepts:
- Match exercises with countries
- Identify Tri-Service vs Single Service
- Understand strategic intent, not just names
👉 Go to Daily Current Affairs Section
FAQs on Defence Exercises 2025
What is the defence exercises 2025 list?
It is the official list of joint military exercises conducted by India with foreign countries in 2025.
How many defence exercises did India conduct in 2025?
India conducted 19 major defence exercises with global partners in 2025.
Which are India’s Tri-Service defence exercises?
Key Tri-Service exercises include Tiger Triumph, INDRA, and Ekuverin.
Why are defence exercises important for India?
They enhance military preparedness, strategic diplomacy, and interoperability with friendly nations.
Are defence exercises important for APPSC exams?
Yes. Questions are frequently asked in Prelims, Mains and Interviews.
Reference: PIB
