The Hindu : National : IAF, Army showcase military might

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IAF, Army showcase military might

Effectively engage the latest array of weaponry in joint air-land battle setting

Pokhran: In one of the biggest war manoeuvres in recent years, the Army and the Indian Air Force showcased their combat prowess, by effectively engaging the latest array of weaponry in a joint air-land battle setting, 75 kilometres from the India-Pakistan border in the Thar desert in Rajasthan.

With diplomats and military attaches from 59 countries in attendence, the exercise code-named ‘Brazen Chariots’ had Army’s frontline T-90 tanks, SMERCH long-range missiles, spy drones, latest air defence gun systems, and fighter jets in action at the Pokhran field firing ranges here.

Voicing happiness at the synergy achieved by the Army and the IAF during the simulated land and air exercise, Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor said all the objectives that “we had set for ourselves were fairly well achieved.”

“I think it’s gone off excellently well. The aim was to try out modern weapons and their efficacy. And also to carry out a bit of synergy with functioning of the Air Force and the Army together and see the effect,” General Kapoor said after the exercise on Wednesday.

The exercise saw participation by the Army’s Southern Command and IAF’s South Western Air Command.

Asked if the exercise was aimed at sending any message to the foreign observers, Gen Kapoor said, “It is not aimed at anyone, we are not trying to send out any message through this exercise. The foreign observers are here to see what the Indian Army and the IAF are capable of.” Synergy between air and ground forces marked the corps level exercises with IAF fighters like SU-30 MKI, deep penetration MiG-27s, upgraded MiG-21 Bisons and attack helicopters coordinating with their counterparts on the ground.

Over 37,000 personnel from the Army and IAF took part in the fire and manoeuvre combat exercise manning army’s tank and artillery units and IAF’s frontline combat jets unleashing their firepower to devastating effect on enemy targets.

Impressive

For most of the over 100 foreign observers, the exercise, providing an opportunity to witness Indian Armed Force’s military assets and capabilities, was more than impressive.

“The synergy between the ground forces and the aerial attack was perfect. It was a well executed performance,” a U.S. official, who wished not to be named, said.

In a sign of growing proximity in military-to-military relations between New Delhi and Beijing, a strong Chinese military observer group also witnessed the exercises.

“I found the exercise impressive. It was a well planned exercise,” Chinese Defence Attache in New Delhi Li Chao said. During the exercise, fighters, transport aircraft and helicopters including SU-30 MKI, MiG 21, MiG 27, IL 76, AN 32, Mi17 and Mi-35 aircraft unleashed the firepower of a variety of weapons on simulated targets such as artillery gun positions, company defended localities, communication nodes, logistics camps and armoured depots of the enemy. — PTI

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