Indo-Russia to hold month-long joint army exercise from August

India and Russia are slated to hold a mega joint army exercise extending over a month in August-September.

The exercise, officials told dna, will be held from Aug 12 –September 11 at Russia's 249th Combined Armed Forces' Sergeyevsky firing range in Russia's far eastern city of Vladivostok.

Codenamed Indra-2016, it will aim at "developing an Indo-Russian cooperation for common and adequate response to threats of international security", said an official.

The entire exercise will be on the theme of creating a joint force under the United Nations against international terrorism.

250 personnel each from the infantry units of the two armies will engage in an exhaustive five-stage joint exercise. The troops will engage in planning of highly tactical operations for neutralisation of international terrorism and isolating and blocking their areas of operation, search operations and elimination of terrorists.Last year, in November, a Russian contingent from an Independent Motorised Brigade comprising 250 military personnel held a joint exercise at Rajasthan's Bikaner. The 14-day training schedule was focused on counter-terrorism operations in the backdrop of the desert terrain.

In 2016 alone, two more joint exercises are planned between New Delhi and Moscow, namely, the Indra-Neva-2016 with the Pacific Fleet and AviaIndra-2016 with the Air Forces and air defense systems.The Indo-Russian naval exercise Indra Navy 2016 is scheduled to be held in December.

Besides, enhancing inter-operability in military training, the joint exercises also serve as platforms for troops from both sides to grow better cultural understanding and strengthen mutual trust and cooperation.

Notably in 2011, Russia, considered a traditional defence ally to India, had called off two significant joint military exercises with her citing non-availability of warships. However, the joint exercises resumed in 2012.