On this special edition of Battle Cry, host Gaurav discusses the multinational air exercise Tarang Shakti and what India stands to gain from fifth-generation stealth fighter operations. Air Marshal Anil Chopra notes, ‘this is the first time any fifth-generation aircraft of any class is going to take part in an exercise organized by Indian Air Force on Indian soil.’ He highlights large force engagements, radar cross-section considerations, and combat drills alongside aircraft such as F-16s and Rafales. Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor explains that Indian ground and airborne radars, sensor-shooter networks, and fourth-to-4.5 generation fighters will fly alongside fifth-generation platforms for the first time, offering valuable lessons for engineers and pilots working on India’s indigenous AMCA. Sandeep Unnithan observes the concerted US push to generate Indian interest in the F-35, while the panel notes evolving warfare requires sovereign manufacturing capabilities, indigenous fighter planes, and domestic engine development.
