India and Russia will hold the INDRA 2019 tri services military exercise from December 10 to December 19, 2019 simultaneously at Babina (Army) , Pune (Air Force), and Goa (Navy) in India. Company sized mechanised contingents, fighter and transport aircraft as well as ships of the from the Army, Air Force and Navy of each nation will participate in the 10 day exercise that will kick off with a 5 day training phase.
Training will include tactical operations and drills such as cordon house intervention, handling and neutralisation of Improvised Explosive Devices, prevention of arms smuggling through the sea route and anti-piracy measures. The training phase will be followed by a 72 hour validation exercise. INDRA 2019 will culminate on December 19 with an Integrated Fire Power demonstration and the Closing Ceremony.
According to the Indian Ministry of Defence press release, «The contingents of both the countries will share expertise and their professional experience. The espirit-de-corps and goodwill shall be the key areas during the exercise which will facilitate further strengthening of bonds between the defence forces of India and Russia».
«It will be a historic occasion for two of the world's greatest Armed Forces to join hands and successfully conduct an exercise of this magnitude with professionalism, to imbibe the best practices from each other, jointly evolve the drills to defeat the scourge of terror under the United Nation mandate».
The Russian MoD press release of December 4, 2019 had stated that the tri-services exercise will include setting up joint headquarters to plan peacekeeping air operations. The joint headquarters will lay down standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the Air Forces at a tactical level.
Fighter pilots from India and Russia will jointly train to provide air support to ground units, and to undertake air defense. Pilots will take part in group flights during the opening and closing ceremonies of the exercise.
Russian and Indian fighter pilots will operate fighter aircraft belonging to each other and familiarize themselves with each other's air traffic control procedures.
Joint theoretical classes, an exchange of experience, and conducting friendly sports competitions are planned on the ground.
The Russian contingent would consist of about 300 military personnel of the Eastern Military District.
In September 2019, TASS reported quoting the Russian Eastern Military District’s press service that Russia will send more than 40 aircraft of various types to India to take part in the exercise.
«In order to participate in joint Russian-Indian multi-service exercise, Indra, the Russian side plans to send over 40 aircraft of various types, including 15 fighter jets, about 20 military-transport aircraft and more than five army aviation helicopters to the Republic of India,» the press service reported.
The Russian naval group will include two warships, a sea tanker, a helicopter and two or three motor boats.
The INDRA series of annual exercises between the Armed Forces of India and Russia began in 2003 and the First joint Tri Services Exercise was conducted in 2017.
Source: Vijainder K Thakur
