Southern Air Command (SAC) conducts joint maritime exercise Kalari Leap in Lakshadweep on 24 February 2026

Key facts

• Southern Air Command (SAC) conducted the joint maritime exercise Kalari Leap in the Lakshadweep and Minicoy archipelago on 24 February 2026.
• The exercise involved the participation of the Armed Forces Special Operations Division (AFSOD) and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
• The operations encompassed airborne and air-landed insertions, special heliborne missions, amphibious assault, anti-ship strike, and maritime search and rescue.
• Air assets utilised during the exercise included An-32, Mi-17V5, and Su-30MKI aircraft.
• The ICG deployed ships and Gemini boats, while its Dornier 228 aircraft was used for search and rescue missions and shepherding fighters for maritime strikes.
• AFSOD special forces were integrated for Combat Free Fall insertions and amphibious assaults to validate joint planning and rapid force projection.