Need for More Joint Exercises

Smruti Deshpande

In order to ensure preparedness and interoperability, Indian forces undertake joint exercises regularly, undergoing military training at home and abroad. While participation with friendly foreign forces has a diplomatic hue, it also helps the forces learn simple and complex manoeuvres as well as exchange tactics. The army, navy and the air force also undertake domestic joint exercises among themselves in order to reach precision while carrying out tough operations while gaining a degree of trust and confidence.

Domestic inter-service exercises are of utmost importance for a country’s armed forces to put forward a robust front in case of a war or conflict scenario. This demands minute coordination and knowledge of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. In today’s day and age, where technology takes precedence, building interoperability when it comes to military platforms is a must.

In Kargil in 1999 during Op Safed Sagar, the air force played an important role that gave the army an edge while operating from the ground. The IAF not only undertook reconnaissance missions of enemy posts by sending Canberra aircraft to the Batalik sector, it later mounted attacks on the infiltrators without crossing the line of control. While there was considerable pressure from outside the IAF to operate only attack helicopters, the then Chief of Air Staff Anil Yashwant Tipnis convinced the government that to create a suitable environment for helicopters, fighter action was required. This was the first time air power was employed in such terrain and environment where the aircraft were required to fly at an altitude higher than 6,000 metres.

Gagan Strike

The Army’s Kharga Corps and the air force conducted a joint exercise, Gagan Strike, in Punjab in September this year. The exercise, conducted over four days, comprised the deployment of attack helicopters as the aerial arm in support of ground forces, which were practicing annihilation of enemy defences and deep penetration. The exercise showcased precision firepower of attack helicopters in coordination with mechanised columns on the ground.

It validated the Apache 64E and Advanced Light Helicopter WSI as potent weapons delivery platforms. “The force multiplier effect of combining these machines with ground operations has enhanced the forces’ combat superiority,” the army had said. The exercise was spearheaded by Kharga Corps GOC Lt Gen. Pratik Sharma with General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lt Gen. Nav K Khanduri witnessing the exercise.

Exercise Prasthan

Prasthan, an offshore security exercise, was conducted in the Offshore Development Area (ODA) off Mumbai in March 2022. Conducted every six months, this exercise is an important element to ensure offshore security and aims to integrate the efforts of all maritime stakeholders involved in offshore defence.

The one-of-a-kind exercise led by the Navy, it saw participation from the IAF, Coast Guard, ONGC, Mumbai Port Trust, Jawahar Lal Nehru Port Trust, Customs, state fisheries department, Mercantile Marine Department and the Marine Police.

The day-long exercise resulted in refining standard operating procedures and response actions to several contingencies in the ODA off Mumbai. Contingencies such as terrorist intrusion, bomb explosion, casualty evacuation, search and rescue, man overboard, major fire, oil spill and mass evacuation were exercised.

Bull Strike

The armed forces in November 2020 conducted a joint tri-service exercise, Bull Strike, at Teressa Island in the Nicobar group of islands located close to the strategic Strait of Malacca. The exercise was conducted by the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) from November 3 to 5 involving the three service components of the ANC, elemen