Itanagar : Amid LAC impasse with China, the Indian Army launched airborne drills along the northern borders in eastern Ladakh on Monday. The exercise was conducted to validate and showcase Indian Army’s rapid response capabilities in high altitudes. The airborne troops of Shatrujeet brigade were inserted to a drop zone at an altitude of over 14,000 feet. The airborne brigade comprising Army’s finest paratroopers is the centerpiece of the three-day high-intensity drill. Watch the full video for more.
The Shatrujeet Brigade of the #IndianArmy is conducting high altitude airborne insertion along the northern borders in Eastern #Ladakh to validate its Rapid Response Capabilities, as part of the airborne exercise and combat manoeuvres. pic.twitter.com/7DcvGxztSo
— Sonu Kanojia (@NNsonukanojia) November 2, 2021
“The Shatrujeet Brigade of Indian Army is conducting an Airborne insertion along the Northern Borders in Eastern Ladakh to validate its Rapid Response Capabilities, as part of an Airborne exercise and combat manoeuvres,” a source said.
The exercise is a part of an overall three-day affair focusing on high altitude area Airborne Exercise along Northern Borders. Other arms and services are also participating.
“The exercise also involves the conduct of Oxygen Combat Free Fall jumps and integrated battle drills by Airborne forces, mechanised columns and attack helicopters, validating capabilities and seamless integration.” added the source quoted above.
Talking about the first day of the exercise the sources said, “On 01 November 2021, Airborne troops were inserted to a Drop Zone at an altitude of more than 14000 feet. Pre-acclimatised troops along with specialist vehicles and missile detachments were transported via C-130 and AN 32 aircrafts from five different mounting bases to validate inter-theatre move, precision stand-off drops, rapid grouping & capture of designated objectives with speed & surprise.”
The exercise is challenging and low temperatures of up to minus 20 degrees and rarefied atmosphere in super high-altitude terrain.
The elements of the brigade have the flexibility and can be inserted, even behind the enemy lines, and gives strategic reach and operational mobility, added another source.
Viewing the exercise as important Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia (retd) said, “It’s a very effective deterrence capability and a threat-in-being China’s aggressive behaviour along LAC.” Lt General Bhatia is himself a paratrooper and was the DG Military Operations of the Army.
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