IAF to Hold Multinational Disaster Relief Exercise in Jamnagar; PM Modi Likely to Attend

Jamnagar: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will conduct a multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise, ‘Sahayata Setu’, at Air Force Station Jamnagar in Gujarat from November 17 to 19, bringing together Indian defence forces, national agencies and international partners, the force said on Tuesday.

The Annual Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Exercise 2026 (AJHE-26) will be held under the guidance of Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) and Headquarters South Western Air Command (HQ SWAC), in coordination with participating national agencies and friendly foreign countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to visit his home state to witness the exercise. Union ministers, Gujarat government officials, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), service chiefs and other dignitaries are also likely to attend.

The three-day exercise will involve the Indian Air Force, Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), alongside international participants.

Sri Lanka, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh are among the countries expected to participate, according to the IAF.

The exercise aims to strengthen inter-agency coordination, enhance operational interoperability and improve collective preparedness to respond to major disasters, including cyclones, earthquakes, floods and chemical emergencies.

The IAF is expected to demonstrate its strategic airlift capabilities and rapid response capacity, which are crucial for transporting relief materials, personnel and essential supplies during emergencies.

The exercise will also focus on technological innovation, international cooperation and operational readiness while promoting solidarity and a shared commitment to disaster response among participating countries. DeshGujarat