<p>The seventh edition of “Yudh Abhyas” or war drill has been under way since March 5 in two locations under the South Western Command. The drill tests the challenges posed by the insurgent organisations and the latest inventories of the army to counter it. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The US army contingent participating in the exercise is from the US Army Pacific, which is a part of their Pacific Command. <br /><br />The CPX (command post) has an engineer brigade headquarters with planners from both sides, while the FTX (field training exercise) comprises troops of Second Squadron 14th US Cavalry Regiment from 25th Infantry Division, Hawaii, along with a platoon of Strykers, and a similar sized Indian Army contingent of mechanised infantry.<br /><br />The event is all the more interesting as a number of key surveillance, communications and lED detection and neutralisation technologies, available with both sides, are being fielded, said an army spokesman.<br /><br />On March 13, the two sides executed a joint cordon and search drill, to neutralise suspected insurgents, in a specially constructed training area in an abandoned village. <br />The drill, codenamed Desert Lark, saw the Indian and US troops establish a cordon using their combat vehicles at night and then conduct dismounted searches by day to flush out insurgents as well as use the third dimension as part of the ops.<br /><br />The CPX (Sarvada Saviours drill) at Bathinda focussed on the challenges faced by Sappers in the domain of countering the threats of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), infrastructure development in strife-torn regions and inaccessible areas and execution of rescue and relief operations during natural calamities or disasters. The exercise provided an excellent opportunity for both sides to understand functioning of Engineer Brigades with special emphasis on operations under the United Nations mandate in troubled areas.<br /><br />Desert Lark and Sarvada Saviours drills were witnessed by an Indian and US Army delegation, headed by the GOC-in-C South Western Command, and Lt Gen Francis “Frank” Wiercinski, commander of the US Army Pacific, also the co-chair of the Executive Steering Group for Indo-US army training events and exchanges. In addition, a number of senior members of the Indian Army also witnessed the drills and interacted with the troops participating in the exercise, both at Mahajan and Bathinda.<br /><br />Exercise “Yudh Abhyas” is part of an ongoing series of joint exercises between the Indian and US Armies since 2005.<br /></p>
<p>The seventh edition of “Yudh Abhyas” or war drill has been under way since March 5 in two locations under the South Western Command. The drill tests the challenges posed by the insurgent organisations and the latest inventories of the army to counter it. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The US army contingent participating in the exercise is from the US Army Pacific, which is a part of their Pacific Command. <br /><br />The CPX (command post) has an engineer brigade headquarters with planners from both sides, while the FTX (field training exercise) comprises troops of Second Squadron 14th US Cavalry Regiment from 25th Infantry Division, Hawaii, along with a platoon of Strykers, and a similar sized Indian Army contingent of mechanised infantry.<br /><br />The event is all the more interesting as a number of key surveillance, communications and lED detection and neutralisation technologies, available with both sides, are being fielded, said an army spokesman.<br /><br />On March 13, the two sides executed a joint cordon and search drill, to neutralise suspected insurgents, in a specially constructed training area in an abandoned village. <br />The drill, codenamed Desert Lark, saw the Indian and US troops establish a cordon using their combat vehicles at night and then conduct dismounted searches by day to flush out insurgents as well as use the third dimension as part of the ops.<br /><br />The CPX (Sarvada Saviours drill) at Bathinda focussed on the challenges faced by Sappers in the domain of countering the threats of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), infrastructure development in strife-torn regions and inaccessible areas and execution of rescue and relief operations during natural calamities or disasters. The exercise provided an excellent opportunity for both sides to understand functioning of Engineer Brigades with special emphasis on operations under the United Nations mandate in troubled areas.<br /><br />Desert Lark and Sarvada Saviours drills were witnessed by an Indian and US Army delegation, headed by the GOC-in-C South Western Command, and Lt Gen Francis “Frank” Wiercinski, commander of the US Army Pacific, also the co-chair of the Executive Steering Group for Indo-US army training events and exchanges. In addition, a number of senior members of the Indian Army also witnessed the drills and interacted with the troops participating in the exercise, both at Mahajan and Bathinda.<br /><br />Exercise “Yudh Abhyas” is part of an ongoing series of joint exercises between the Indian and US Armies since 2005.<br /></p>
