Exercise Kharga Shakti 2026 concludes successfully

Chandigarh: Exercise Kharga Shakti 2026 has concluded successfully, bringing to a close an intensive operational cycle that placed Kharga Corps under a wide spectrum of battlefield conditions. The exercise served as a proving ground for the Corps' ability to combine mobility, firepower and technology into coherent and decisive combat power. Across the span of the exercise, formations were challenged to operate in environments shaped by rapid information flow, dispersed threats and compressed decision timelines. This allowed commanders to assess how mechanised forces performed when supported by UAS-enabled reconnaissance, protective counter-UAS measures and Air Defence elements that safeguarded manoeuvre corridors.
A major highlight was the performance of the ASHNI Platoons and Shaktibaan Regiment. Their tasks extended beyond routine validation, involving coordinated employment, reconnaissance and precision-linked fire delivery. Their integration with surveillance inputs and layered protection systems demonstrated how specialised units can enhance tempo, situational awareness and reinforce the striking power of larger combat groupings. The exercise also underscored the Kharga Corps' growing proficiency in operating within a technology-enabled battlespace. Responsive sensors, secure communication networks and adaptive protection frameworks contributed to a more informed and resilient operational picture, enabling assured victory with faster and more confident decision-making at multiple levels. Joint operations with the Indian Air Force added significant depth, with synchronised air-land missions, ISR-driven targeting and precision strike coordination demonstrating India's capacity to achieve multi-domain dominance. The exercise highlighted the Kharga Corps' ability to rapidly escalate from deterrence to decisive action, ensuring assured victory when required. Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiar, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, reviewed the exercise and commended the formations for their professionalism, tech infusion, clarity of execution and unwavering operational focus. Lt Gen Rajesh Pushkar, GOC 2 Corps, emphasised that the performance of Kharga Corps sent a clear strategic signal: India possessed both the will and the capability to neutralise any threat with speed, precision and overwhelming force. Exercise Kharga Shakti 2026 stands as a testament that India's Western front is forged for aggression by a modern, integrated and fully prepared force. MSID: 128750354 413 |