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Indra Army Exercise Between Russia and India

The article briefly explains the important details about Exercise INDRA. The article discusses the Indo-Russia joint Military Exercise and the key facts about the Exercise INDRA.

Russia and India are co-hosting a large-scale Army Exercise named INDRA – 2021. The military exercise INDRA  is a joint Exercise between the Russian Army and the Indian Army. The Exercise involved about 10,000 Soldiers and was a grand event for both the Countries.

The Exercise incorporates large-scale operations with state-of-the-art weapons systems and war machine equipment.

The following article is about Exercise INDRA, 

which is an Indo-Russia joint Military Exercise, and the key facts about the Exercise INDRA.

About Exercise INDRA

The Indo-Russia joint Military Exercise was conducted under the aegis of the Russian Federation Ministry of Defense and fully supported by India’s Army.

The Exercise involved various types of weapons such as artillery with missiles and guided missiles, helicopters, attack and transport planes, tanks, and light cavalry forces, including armored and mechanized infantry, to name a few.

The Exercise gave training to both armies in all aspects like warfare, logistical support, Tactics, and man-management. One of the key highlights of the Exercise involves strategic strike capabilities and joint air defence.

The Exercise lasted for three weeks, and it’s estimated to cost about US $500 million.

Exercise INDRA also serves as a maiden bilateral drill between Russia and India.

All the participating countries include more than 150 Combat units from Russia, India, Belarus, and Kazakhstan.

The recent developments in India-Russia relations have helped strengthen the bilateral ties between the two countries. The relations between the two countries got a major boost after the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Russian President Putin in Sochi.

The Indian Army has also participated in several key military exercises with the US, China, Nepal, and other countries.

Key Facts About the Exercise INDRA- 21

Following are the major facts about Exercise INDRA- 21

The Russian Federation Ministry of Defence has invited a number of countries to participate in the INDRA, including Belarus, Kazakhstan, and India.

The Indian Army planned to send about 10,000 Soldiers for the INDRA, out of which 5500 were from the Army units. Recent revelations in the media indicate that between 500 to 1000 Athletes from Belarus will also participate in this grand event. 

The Indian Army has also participated in several key military exercises with the US, China, Nepal, and other countries. The recent developments in India-Russia relations have helped strengthen the bilateral ties between the two countries.

The Exercise INDRA  will focus on joint operations against terrorists and counter-terrorism operations. It will also involve coordination among land, naval, and air forces of the participating states in order to coordinate, synchronize and perform large scale dismounted operations. The exercise aims to enhance interoperability and a higher level of joint staff work.

The Defence Minister also mentioned that the Russia-India relationship had been deeply impacted by the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, which saw a lot of anti-Russian feelings in India. The article also mentioned that India and Russia had had bilateral relations since time immemorial. Both the countries have built an effective mechanism to keep in touch and address any concerns at any level.

The Major Objectives of this Exercise include

  • Improvement in Combat Readiness,
  • Enhancement of cooperation in all fields of national defence
  • Development of joint capabilities
  • Exchange of experience and mutual learning
  • Co-operative development of command and control mechanisms between the Armed forces

Also, mention that both the countries have made great progress in their military cooperation, which includes both bilateral and multilateral drills. The article also mentions that both the countries have been actively participating in military exercises like Indra, Surya Kiran, and Cope India.

  • Surya Kiran is a tri-service joint military exercise of India with participation from the Indian Air Force, the Indian Navy, and the Indian army.
  • Indra is an annual bilateral drill between India and Russia which began in 2003. The series of drills between the two countries had its first instance in 2003 under code name Indra which was held in India.

The benefit of the Indo-Russia Joint Military Exercise

The Exercise will benefit India by preparing the Army to face the current and future security challenges in its neighborhood. Moreover, it will contribute to maintaining peace and ensuring stability in the region. INDRA will give the opportunity to both India and Russia to further their diplomatic relations and strengthen their ties in strategic and military fields. It will also help them exchange combat experience and best practices of military operations.

Conclusion

The article briefly explained the important details about Exercise INDRA. The article discusses the Indo-Russia joint Military Exercise and the key facts about the Exercise INDRA. The Russian Federation Ministry of Defence has invited several countries to participate in the INDRA, including Belarus, Kazakhstan, and India. The Indian Army planned to send about 10,000 Soldiers for the INDRA, out of which 5500 were from the Army units. The article mentions that both the countries have made great progress in their military cooperation, including bilateral and multilateral drills.

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What is the military dimension of Indo-Russian bilateral relations?

Ans : The Indian and Russian militaries have traditionally enjoyed a basic level of harmonious coop...Read full

What is the historical background of the Indo-Russian military bilateral relationship?

Ans : The Indian and Russian militaries have traditionally enjoyed a basic level of harmonious coop...Read full

What is INDRA?

Ans : The INDRA series of drills between India and Russia began in 2003 under the code name Indra h...Read full

What is the purpose of INDRA?

Ans : The overall objective of this exercise was to enhance cooperation between the two armed force...Read full