New Delhi: The 11th edition of the India-Indonesia joint special forces exercise, Garuda Shakti, ended on November 5 at Banyuwangi in East Java, Indonesia, after a 48-hour validation drill. The exercise began on October 27 and had been scheduled to run until November 6.
Troops from the Indian Army’s Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) trained with their Indonesian counterparts. The stated aim was to improve interoperability, operational coordination and mutual understanding between the two armies.
The training centred on special forces operations in dense jungle. It covered combat marksmanship, obstacle crossing, mountaineering, heli-borne operations, tactical patrolling and combat tracking. The two sides also exchanged views on weapons, equipment, operational techniques and best practices. Joint live-firing drills were held on October 29.
In the heli-borne phase, the troops rehearsed a full air assault mission. This included rapid insertion by helicopter, securing the landing zone, patrolling and carrying out assigned tasks in thick forest. In combat tracking, they practised following trails by reading ground signs and disturbances. Drones were also used for surveillance, reconnaissance and better situational awareness. Combat tracking and drone drills were conducted on October 31.
The validation exercise began on November 3 and drew on the skills built over the previous seven days. It was held under simulated operational conditions and tested patrolling, combat tracking, mountaineering and other special forces tasks, along with endurance and the ability to run joint missions. According to the Indian Embassy in Indonesia, it ended with a joint ambush and an air assault on a simulated enemy camp in jungle terrain.
A closing ceremony on November 5 was attended by the ambassador of India to Indonesia and the commander of Division 2 of the Indonesian Army. The Army said all training objectives were met.
The previous edition was held in December 2025 at the Special Forces Training School in Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh, where the focus was counter-terrorism, combat shooting and drone and counter-drone operations. This year's edition moved the exercise to Indonesian jungle terrain. The two sides said the exercise has strengthened professional ties between their special forces and their wider defence cooperation.
