Russia, India begin joint anti-terrorism drill

MOSCOW: Russian and Indian airborne troops Sunday began the active phase of the INDRA-2007 joint counter-terrorism exercises in northwest Russia's Pskov Region.
 
Colonel Alexander Cherednik, a spokesman for the Russian Airborne Troops, said the active phase, set to run till September 18, started with an airborne assault.

The Indian airborne contingent of 160 soldiers from the Parachute Regiment arrived in the Pskov Region on Sep 11 for the exercise. Joining them are some 240 Russian troops.

With counter-terrorism as the theme of the drill, the forces of the two countries would simulate
‘joint planning and conducting air and ground manoeuvres to neutralize, under a UN mandate, a concentration of international terrorists in a third country’, an Indian defence ministry release issued in New Delhi said.

The manoeuvres are being conducted under the aegis of Russian 76 Airborne Division and involve a plethora of state-of-art battle equipment as well as a large number of fixed and rotary wing aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

"The manoeuvres will be conducted in three phases, culminating in a realistic simulated joint operational exercise involving surveillance, acquiring and assessing of intelligence," the release said.

"The exercise will involve multi-directional mass airborne insertion and tactical para drops, regrouping into joint task forces and joint teams - followed by a series of counter-terrorist operations."

The manoeuvres will involve a cross-country hike over approximately 100 km after the airdrop, assault crossing of a river obstacle, destruction of terrorist hideouts, and extrication from the target area into neutral territory.

"The exercise has been structured so as to enhance inter-operability and maximize mutual learning from each others' rich combat experiences," the release said.

Joint command and control at all levels will also help the two forces in refining processes, procedures and drills so as to enhance inter-operability.

"All this will lead to maximizing operational effectiveness. Indra-2007 will pave the way for further up scaling of military cooperation in terms of scope, content and enhanced participation in the years to come," the release added.

The exercise will be under the overall control of Lt. Gen. N.I. Ignatov, commanding general of the Russian 76 Airborne Division and be witnessed by the Indian Army chief, Gen. J.J. Singh.

Russia's military cooperation with India goes back nearly half a century, and India accounts for nearly 40 percent of Russian arms exports.