The Indian Army is set to have back-to-back war games with the US and Russia, signifying yet another evidence of its acceptability as a partner to international military powers.
While the two-week mock drill with the US Army, named Exercise Yudh Abhyas, is set to commence at Chaubatia military station in Ranikhet on September 14, another Indian contingent is ready to fly out to Russia a week later for exercising with the Russian Army in the cold climate.
A month after war gaming with the US and Russian armies, troops from China’s People’s Liberation Army will land in Pune for the Hand-in-Hand exercise, which is considered one of the confidence-building measures between two of the world’s largest armies that fought a bitter war in 1962.
Counter-terrorism
“Exercise Yudh Abhyas-2016 will simulate a scenario where both nations are working together in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism environment in mountainous terrain. It will witness participation of about 225 personnel of the US Army and similar strength of Congo Brigade of the Indian Army,” said a statement from the army’s central command.
The exercise with the US would be the first bilateral engagement under the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA)—the new logistics pact inked by the US and India to facilitate military operations in each other’s territories.
The increased complexity of the Yudh Abhyas series of military exercises featured in the talks between Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his US counterpart Ashton Carter last month.
Earlier this year, navies and air forces from Russia and the US carried out war gaming with the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.
The engagement with the Chinese will take place from November 15-27 in which both sides will sharpen their skills on a simulated counter-terrorism operation against an international terror outfit.