Monday, March 24, 2008

presExercise ‘Brazen Chariots’ displays India’s military might

Pokhran, Mar 20: The Indian Army and the Indian Air Force jointly conducted large-scale war manoeuvres in the Thar Desert on Wednesday, baring their newly acquired lethal weapons platforms and systems during the exercise ‘Brazen Chariots’, to showcase their respective capabilities.
Senior military dignitaries of over 60 countries, including China and other guests were impre
ssed by the rapid response and firepower of the armed forces to disrupt the enemy’s decision cycle.
In the biggest war game in rec
ent years, the military stressed on the concept of combined land and air warfare as different to the past attrition style of warfare where one arm played the significant role.
The venue of the exercises was around 100 km from India’s border with Pakistan. Pakistan was informed, but its representative was not invited as the process of working out confidence building measures with the neighbour is still in progress.
The exercise showca
sed flexibility, variety and reach of air power in future wars.
Army Chief Deepak K
apoor said that the aim of the exercise was to check the "efficacy of the modern weapons that we have."
He commented upon the synergy between the Army and
the Air Force, and said that they intended to carry out with these joint operations to see its impact on different targets.
General Kapoor further said that all thos
e objectives set during the Exercise ‘Brazen Chariots’ have been achieved.

The T-90 Bhishma tanks, built with Russian collaboration, displayed their firepower. The exercise involved engagement of an air target by shoulder fired air defence missiles, special heliborne operations, fire of multi barrel launcher batteries, heli drop, and deployment and firing of mortar battery.

The army had mobilised over 37,000 troops from the 21 Corps and fielded its cutting edge weapon systems for the exercise to address the dynamic changes sweeping today's battle space. Storming targets, practising tactics in the harsh environment and dropping from the sky were few highlights of the operations.

The IAF closely supported the surface forces with the induction of airborne troops, providing logistical support while its frontline fighter aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, Jaguar, MiG-27, MiG-21 Bison and armed helicopters, unleashed their firepower to

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