Article Posted on : - May 13, 2011

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BIKANER (PTI): The joint Indian Army and Indian Air Force (IAF) exercise 'Vijayee Bhava', being conducted in the desert sector of north Rajasthan, has entered its crucial culmination phase with the forces performing manoeuvres in a simulated battlefield environment against an exercise enemy.

During the exercise, the forces are evaluating and testing new equipments, technology and concept of modern warfare which have emerged during the transformation studies of the Indian Army.

An official said that in a fluid battlefield, the operational plans are based on real time situational awareness or battlefield transparency which is ensured by networked deployment of a plethora of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets which include inter alia, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and satellites.

The input from the sensors is analysed and synthesized in the ISR command post and shared with the environment in real time, enabling commanders to take right and timely decision, he said.

Lt Gen, Western Command, SR Ghosh said in Suratgarh that the Army is quite prepared for any challenge.

"Success of any battle would be based on the integration of air and land war and we have tried to achieve this through this exercise by involving air assets of the army and air force in an integrated manner," he said.

The month long exercise involves the Ambala based Kharga Corps and the Western Air Command.

According to a defence spokesperson, fighter jets and helicopters including Mig-21 Bison, Mig-29, Jaguars, Mi-17 IV, Chetak and Mi- 25/35 have been involved in the joint exercise which will end in mid-May.