A Royal Thai Air Force Gripen and an Indian Air Force Sukhoi-30MKI.
New Delhi: The Indian Air Force and the Royal Thai Air Force are set to hold a joint exercise near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ strategic Malacca Strait on Monday. During the drills the two air forces would deploy advanced fighter aircraft close to one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
The exercise will see India’s Sukhoi-30MKI fighters and Thailand’s Saab Gripens conduct operations in the North Malacca Strait region, according to Indian Air Force sources. Between four and six aircraft from each nation are expected to participate.
India will also deploy mid-air refuelling tankers and an Awacs (airborne warning and control system) aircraft to support the operation. The Indian Navy will position warships in the area to assist with search-and-rescue operations if required.
The Su-30MKI jets will operate from an Indian airbase in the Andamans, while the Thai Gripens will fly from a base in Thailand. The exercise is designed to enhance interoperability between the two air forces and test their ability to conduct joint operations in challenging maritime environments.
The choice of location underscores the strategic importance of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, which sits at the junction of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. The islands provide India with a significant vantage point for monitoring movements through the Strait of Malacca, through which roughly a quarter of global trade passes.
The strait, which separates the Indonesian island of Sumatra from the Malay Peninsula, is particularly critical for energy shipments to East Asian economies. According to the US Energy Information Administration, around 16 million barrels of petroleum and petroleum products passed through the strait daily in 2023, making it the second-busiest chokepoint globally after the Strait of Hormuz.
India has steadily expanded its military infrastructure in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in recent years. The archipelago hosts naval and air force bases that allow New Delhi to project power across the eastern Indian Ocean and into the Indo-Pacific region.
The exercise will assess logistics, airlift capabilities, and mid-air refuelling over extended distances, according to sources. It will also test the ability of both air forces to respond rapidly to potential contingencies, including natural disasters, maritime threats, or regional conflicts.
India and Thailand have maintained defence cooperation for several years, though joint air exercises between the two nations remain relatively infrequent. Thailand operates a fleet of Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D fighters, which it acquired from Sweden between 2008 and 2013. The Gripen is a lightweight, multi-role fighter designed for quick deployment and high manoeuvrability.
India’s Su-30MKI, manufactured under licence from Russia’s Sukhoi, forms the backbone of the Indian Air Force’s fighter fleet. The twin-engine aircraft is capable of both air superiority and ground attack missions and has a combat radius of approximately 1,500 kilometres.
The exercise comes as India prepares for a series of joint drills with other air forces over the next two months. The Indian Air Force is scheduled to conduct exercises with the air forces of France, the United States, and Greece, according to sources.
New Delhi has expanded its military engagement with regional and global partners in recent years as part of efforts to strengthen its position in the Indo-Pacific. The Indian government has emphasised the importance of working with like-minded nations to ensure freedom of navigation and a rules-based order in the region.
