Army, IAF conduct joint multi-domain exercise close to LAC in Northeast

The exercise — Vayu Prahar — was held in the eastern theatre to validate joint plans and prosecute synergised multi-domain operations

Indian Air Force (IAF), Indian army, Line of Actual Control (LAC), India China border dispute, Northeast, Indian Express, India news, current affairs

Army sources had said that the exercise was aimed at practicing battle preparedness of the defence forces using latest equipment and weapons in a networked and integrated environment.

The Army and the Indian Air Force (IAF) jointly carried out a multi-domain air-land exercise in an undisclosed location close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the northeast in the second week of March, defence sources said on Thursday.

The exercise comes amid efforts to institutionalise tactical-level jointness between the defence forces, as a precursor to the creation of integrated theatre commands.

India and China have been locked in a military standoff along the Tibetan border since 2020, where China has already fielded its Combined Arms Brigades.

The exercise — Vayu Prahar — was held in the eastern theatre to validate joint plans and prosecute synergised multi-domain operations, the sources said.

They added that operations like these aim at orchestrating military activities across all spectrum to deliver converging effects.

Defence sources said the scope of the exercise included quick mobilisation of a specified rapid reaction force from the hinterland to undertake air-landed operations in a nominated advanced landing ground (ALGs) close to the LAC. An air-landed operation refers to rapid envelopment of enemy forces using airborne induction of troops.

As part of its infrastructure push along the LAC, India is constructing several ALGs in forward locations to facilitate more air operations. Arunachal Pradesh has several ALGs including at Along, Mechuka, Tawang, Tuting, Walong and Ziro. These ALGs have also been opened for use by civil aircraft.

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They added that the air landed force executed contingency tasks based on a realistic operational scenario in a challenging high-altitude terrain.

“The conduct of Vayu Prahar enabled coordination and rehearsal amongst various agencies for quick mobilisation, transportation and deployment of forces within a theatre which can be executed across theatres,” a source said.

“The exercise validated and refined procedures quintessential for synergised joint operations. Army Formations, Special Forces along with the IAF participated in the 96-hour exercise,” the source added.

Last month, the Army had conducted Trishakti Prahar — a joint training exercise — close to the strategic Siliguri Corridor in North Bengal.

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Army sources had said that the exercise was aimed at practicing battle preparedness of the defence forces using latest equipment and weapons in a networked and integrated environment.

All arms and services of the Army, the IAF and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were involved in the exercise.

Amrita Nayak Dutta

Amrita Nayak Dutta writes on defence and national security as part of the national bureau of The Indian Express. In the past, Amrita has extensively reported on the media industry and broadcasting matters, urban affairs, bureaucracy and government policies. In the last 14 years of her career, she has worked in newspapers as well as in the online media space and is well versed with the functioning of both newsrooms. Amrita has worked in the northeast, Mumbai and Delhi. She has travelled extensively across the country, including in far-flung border areas, to bring detailed reports from the ground and has written investigative reports on media and defence. She has been working for The Indian Express since January 2023. ... Read More

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