Content:
- OPERATION BRAHMA – INDIAN NAVAL SHIPS SAIL WITH RELIEF MATERIAL
- INDIAN AIR FORCE TO PARTICIPATE IN MULTI-NATION AIR EXERCISE INIOCHOS-25
OPERATION BRAHMA – INDIAN NAVAL SHIPS SAIL WITH RELIEF MATERIAL
Context and Background
- A devastating earthquake struck Myanmar and Thailand on 28 March 2025, causing extensive damage and humanitarian crises.
- India launched Operation Brahma to provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to Myanmar.
- The operation is being conducted under the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in coordination with:
- Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS)
- Indian Army
- Indian Air Force
- National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
Relevance : GS 2(International Relations)
India’s Strategic and Humanitarian Response
(a) Deployment of Naval Assets
- Indian Navy’s swift mobilization demonstrates India’s commitment to regional HADR operations.
- Ships Deployed:
- INS Satpura and INS Savitri (Eastern Naval Command) sailed for Yangon on 29 March 2025.
- INS Karmuk and LCU 52 (Andaman and Nicobar Command) set to depart on 30 March 2025.
- Cargo Onboard (52 tons of relief material):
- Essential clothing, drinking water, food
- Medicines and emergency stores
- HADR pallets for disaster relief
Implications of India’s Assistance
(a) Strengthening India’s ‘First Responder’ Status
- Reinforces India’s role as a net security provider and HADR leader in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- Aligns with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine.
- Enhances India’s regional goodwill and soft power diplomacy.
(b) Boosting Strategic Relations with Myanmar
- Strengthens bilateral ties with Myanmar, which is crucial for:
- Border security cooperation (especially insurgency issues in Northeast India).
- Connectivity projects (Kaladan Multi-Modal Project, India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway).
- Countering China’s influence in Myanmar through economic and humanitarian engagement.
(c) Strengthening Defence Diplomacy in Southeast Asia
- Enhances India’s defence diplomacy and naval presence in Southeast Asia.
- Aligns with India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific Strategy.
- Showcases India’s blue-water naval capability in crisis response.
Learning from Past HADR Operations
(a) India’s Previous HADR Missions
- Operation Sahayata (Cyclone Idai, Mozambique, 2019)
- Operation Samudra Maitri (Sulawesi Earthquake, Indonesia, 2018)
- Operation Karuna (Cyclone Mocha, Myanmar, 2023)
- Operation Samudra Setu (COVID-19 repatriation, 2020)
(b) Institutional Mechanisms for HADR
- MEA-led coordination with MOD and NDRF ensures quick response.
- Enhanced HADR logistics through Andaman and Nicobar Command, ensuring rapid mobilization.
- Standardized HADR pallets for efficient disaster response deployment.
Conclusion:
- Strengthens India’s regional leadership in disaster response.
- Reinforces diplomatic and strategic engagement with Myanmar.
- Enhances India’s maritime and defence diplomacy under Act East Policy.
- Builds on India’s HADR operational experience, improving future disaster response efficiency.
INDIAN AIR FORCE TO PARTICIPATE IN MULTI-NATION AIR EXERCISE INIOCHOS-25
Context : The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to participate in Exercise INIOCHOS-25, a multi-national air combat exercise hosted by the Hellenic Air Force (Greece) from March 31 to April 11, 2025. This exercise aims to enhance combat interoperability, tactical coordination, and joint operational capabilities among 15 participating nations.
Relevance : GS 2(International Relations ) , GS 3(Defense)
Strategic Importance of INIOCHOS-25
- Multinational Collaboration: Hosted by the Hellenic Air Force, involving 15 nations, providing a platform for enhanced military diplomacy.
- Realistic Combat Simulations: Includes multi-domain air warfare, surface threats, and complex battle scenarios, improving operational preparedness.
- Bilateral & Multilateral Defence Ties: Strengthens India’s defence relations with European nations and NATO members, increasing geopolitical influence.
IAF’s Deployment and Capabilities
- Aircraft Participation:
- Su-30MKI: India’s frontline air superiority fighter; enhances dogfighting, beyond-visual-range (BVR) combat, and multirole operations.
- IL-78 Aerial Refueler: Extends operational range of fighters, improving long-endurance strike capabilities.
- C-17 Globemaster III: Strategic airlift for rapid force deployment and logistical support.
- Tactical Training Areas:
- Combined Air Operations (COMAO): Training in large-force employment with joint air assets.
- Electronic Warfare (EW) and Network-Centric Ops: Simulating modern air defence threats and countermeasures.
- Interoperability with NATO & Non-NATO Air Forces: Refining joint tactical air operations with technologically advanced air forces.
Future Implications
- Strengthening Indo-Greek Defence Ties:
- Expands military cooperation beyond naval exercises like India-Greece joint maritime drills.
- May lead to joint defence procurements, training exchanges, and technology sharing.
- Enhancing India’s Role in Global Air Exercises:
- Builds on IAF’s participation in Ex Red Flag (USA), Ex Pitch Black (Australia), Ex Cobra Warrior (UK), and Ex Tarang Shakti (India’s own multinational exercise).
- Increases credibility as a global air power, strengthening defence diplomacy.
- Boost to Indigenous Air Power Development:
- Lessons from INIOCHOS–25 can refine tactics for Tejas Mk1A, AMCA (5th Gen Fighter), and future unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs).
- Enhances IAF’s capability to integrate with advanced platforms like Rafale and upcoming MRFA acquisitions.
Historical & Policy Context
- Past Participation in Multinational Exercises:
- IAF has participated in similar air exercises, learning from Western, Russian, and indigenous combat doctrines.
- Helps India bridge Western (NATO) and Eastern (Russian) operational frameworks, boosting joint mission effectiveness.
- Alignment with India’s Defence Policy:
- Supports India’s Act East & Indo-Pacific strategies by fostering ties with European and Mediterranean partners.
- Complements India’s self-reliance in defence (Atmanirbhar Bharat) by exposing personnel to cutting-edge air combat technologies.
Geopolitical and Strategic Takeaways
- Strengthening India’s Air Power Diplomacy:
- Enhances IAF’s ability to operate in diverse theatres, from the Indian Ocean to Europe.
- Signals India’s willingness to collaborate on collective air defence, maritime security, and crisis response.
- Message to Adversaries:
- Participation in NATO-aligned exercises subtly signals India’s growing military coordination with the West.
- Strengthens deterrence against regional threats, particularly in the Indo-Pacific and Western border regions.
- Improving Force Projection Capability:
- Learning from multi-role air operations and deep-strike missions enhances IAF’s combat readiness for potential two-front conflicts.
- Gains insights into advanced SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defences) tactics, which are crucial for any high-intensity conflict scenario.
Conclusion
IAF’s participation in INIOCHOS-25 marks a significant step in defence cooperation, tactical learning, and geopolitical positioning. It enhances operational experience, strengthens strategic partnerships, and integrates IAF into global air warfare networks, reinforcing India’s role as a rising air power.
