Article Posted on : - May 02, 2012

Indian Air Force Sukhoi fighter aircraft.

NEW DELHI (PTI): Indian Air Force will chip in with its front-line Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft to provide air support to army troops practising their combat skills during the culmination stage of summer training exercise 'Shoorveer' in the deserts of Rajasthan later this week.

"The IAF will fly Su-30 fighter aircraft and Mi-35 attack helicopters as part of 'Exercise With Troops' during the ongoing summer exercise. As part of its combat support role, IAF will also air drop a large contingent of paratroopers in the exercise area," Air-force officials said Tuesday.

The exercise is being conducted by Army's Jaipur-based South Western Command -- also known as the Sapta Shakti Command.

With more than 50,000 troops, the army will be testing the skills of its infantry, artillery and armoured units for launching an offensive on enemy lines during peak summer months.

"The exercise will provide a platform to validate the recent concepts, systems and arms inducted in the army in last few years. A major part of the new concepts involve airborne operations and providing air support to the ground troops," they said.

As part of Special Heliborne Operations (SHBO), the IAF will also deploy Mi-17 choppers to mount counter offensive on advancing enemy troops to support the land operations, the officials said.

The exercise would help the IAF and the Army improve their coordination for a swifter and faster battle plan with the help of laid down procedures and advance communication systems, they said.

Both the Army and the Air Force would deploy their Remotely Piloted Aircrafts (RPAs) to gather intelligence and advance information in support of their missions.

The exercise also involves both day and night operations by the air and ground troops, the officials said.