New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) Preparing to meet military threats from China, the Indian Air Force has been conducting a major war exercise in the northeast, in coordination with the army, to test their combat potential.
‘The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Shillong-based Eastern Air Command commenced the exercise codenamed ‘Pralay’ (Apocalypse) on Feb 29,’
a air force officer said.
The exercise involves joint army-air operations by the IAF and the Indian Army’s Kolkata-based Eastern Command, senior air force and army officers said here Thursday.
‘The annual exercise is aimed at testing the combat potential of the IAF in various roles such as air defence, ground support operations, counter air operations, electronic warfare, joint operations with the army, including special operations by day and night,’ an officer said.
Among the aircraft participating in the exercise are the frontline Sukhoi-30, Mirage-2000, MiG-29, Jaguar, MiG-21 Bison fighter aircraft, Mi-17 helicopters, AN-32 and C-130J transport planes, the AWACS, flight refuelling aircraft, as well as remotely piloted aircraft from the army.
‘It also includes conduct of Special Forces operations and night operations in conjunction with ground forces,’ the officer said.
The entire spectrum of air operations by aircraft under dense air defence environment is being practiced both by day and night.
The exercise also includes facets of network centric operations, electronic warfare as well as information warfare and all technology-intensive battle manoeuvres.
Apart from war fighting in the skies, various ground contingencies related to air force operations are being tested.
‘Lessons learnt from this exercise would be incorporated in future operational strategies,’ an army officer said.
Eastern Army Command is actively taking part to train the forces in joint operations, the officials added.
