Article Posted on : - Nov 06, 2015

A representational photo.

JAIPUR (PTI): 250 officers and soldiers from Russia will join Indian counterparts in the joint military exercise in Rajasthan's deserts from Saturday to finetune skills in counter-terrorism operations.

The troops of the two countries will engage in a variety of missions including joint planning, cordon and search operations, search and rescue, joint tactical drills and special arms skills during the 14-day exercise.

The exercise 'INDRA-2015 in the desert terrain of Bikaner will be conducted in two phases - 'Combat Conditioning and Tactical Training' and 'Validation', Defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Ojha said today. This will be the seventh edition of India-Russia joint military exercise.

The exercise from November 7 to 20 will focus on jointly combating the scourge of international terrorism and to build military capabilities to counter the evolving threats.

Ojha said a 250-member Russian Army contingent would arrive in Bikaner for the joint exercise.

"To achieve inter-operability in joint operations in the future, troops from an Independent Russian Motorised Brigade and Indian Army's Infantry Battalion would initially acquaint themselves with the approach to such operations, command and control systems as well as arms and equipment of each other," the spokesperson said in a release.

The joint training would focus on ensuring a high degree of physical fitness, tactical drills, techniques and procedures and a comprehensive training programme.

Senior Indian and Russian Army officials would witness the exercise.