India, Russia conclude war games

India and Russia concluded their joint tri-service exercise, Indra, in Vladivostok on Sunday.

Indra was an 11-day joint training in counter-terrorism operations.

This is India’s first tri-service exercise with any country.

“In the series of bilateral exercises under combating terrorism, the exercise this year focused on conduct of counter-insurgency/counter-terrorist operations under United Nations mandate in a joint service environment. The exercise also provided an opportunity to both the armies for greater cultural understanding, sharing experiences and strengthening mutual trust and cooperation,” the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

The exercise began on October 19 and saw the participation of over 800 Indian personnel. Indian forces largely used Russian equipment with which they are very familiar.

In the final and the operational phase of the exercise the two sides executed a mission wherein a task force comprising of armoured, mechanised Infantry and Infantry elements, supported by fighter aircrafts and armed helicopters successfully extricated a humanitarian aid convoy from a terrorist attack.

“A terrorist attack on a humanitarian aid convoy was simulated as per the exercise setting. The humanitarian assistance was aimed for trapped civilians in a counter insurgency environment under U.N. mandate,” one official said.

The attack tested the response mechanism of the Combined Task Force of Indian and Russian defence forces, the official added.

Early this year the two countries decided to upgrade Indra from an individual service exercise into an integrated tri-service.