Umroi (Meghalaya): India and Malaysia on Monday commenced a two-week-long joint military exercise “Harimau Shakti -2023” at joint warfare training centre at Umroi cantonment here in Meghalaya.
The exercise is an annual training event between the Indian and Malaysian armies and has been conducted since 2012. The last edition of the joint exercise was conducted in Pulai, Kluang, Malaysia in November 2022.
Combat-experienced troops of the Indian Army’s Rajput Regiment and the 5th Royal Battalion of Malaysian Army are participating in the exercise this year.
“Exercise Harimau Shakti …. is aimed at enhancing military capability for conduct of multi-domain operations in a sub conventional scenario. During the exercise, both contingents will establish a joint command post and establish an integrated surveillance grid along with a joint surveillance centre,” Shillong-based Defence PRO Wing Commander Sreeprakash said.
He said both the armies will rehearse employment of joint forces in jungle/ semi urban / urban environment, intelligence collection, collation and dissemination drills.
“The Exercise will also witness employment of Drones/UAVs & Helicopters. Two sides will also practice casualty management and evacuation drills. Both the contingents will discuss logistics management and practice survival training at the Battalion level,” Sreeprakash said.
He said the training will focus primarily on high degree of physical fitness, conduct of drills at tactical level and sharing of best practices with each other. The Exercise will culminate with a 48-hour long validation exercise in a semi-urban area.
“Exercise HARIMAU SHAKTI” is aimed to enhance the level of defence co-operation between Indian Army and the Malaysian Army, which will also foster the bilateral relations between the two nations, the defence spokesperson said.
