Pokhran, Mar 20: The Indian Army and the Indian Air Force jointly conducted large-scale war manoeuvres in the Thar Desert on Wednesday, baring their newly acquired lethal weapons platforms and systems during the exercise ‘Brazen Chariots’, to showcase their respective capabilities.

Senior military dignitaries of over 60 countries, including China and other guests were impressed by the rapid response and firepower of the armed forces to disrupt the enemy’s decision cycle.

In the biggest war game in recent years, the military stressed on the concept of combined land and air warfare as different to the past attrition style of warfare where one arm played the significant role.

The venue of the exercises was around 100 km from India’s border with Pakistan. Pakistan was informed, but its representative was not invited as the process of working out confidence building measures with the neighbour is still in progress.

The exercise showcased flexibility, variety and reach of air power in future wars.

Army Chief Deepak Kapoor said that the aim of the exercise was to check the "efficacy of the modern weapons that we have."

He commented upon the synergy between the Army and the Air Force, and said that they intended to carry out with these joint operations to see its impact on different targets.

General Kapoor further said that all those objectives set during the Exercise ‘Brazen Chariots’ have been achieved.

The T-90 Bhishma tanks, built with Russian collaboration, displayed their firepower. The exercise involved engagement of an air target by shoulder fired air defence missiles, special heliborne operations, fire of multi barrel launcher batteries, heli drop, and deployment and firing of mortar battery.

The army had mobilised over 37,000 troops from the 21 Corps and fielded its cutting edge weapon systems for the exercise to address the dynamic changes sweeping today's battle space. Storming targets, practising tactics in the harsh environment and dropping from the sky were few highlights of the operations.

The IAF closely supported the surface forces with the induction of airborne troops, providing logistical support while its frontline fighter aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, Jaguar, MiG-27, MiG-21 Bison and armed helicopters, unleashed their firepower to devastating effect.

The airborne assault capability of the IAF was demonstrated wherein the Army troops and equipment were air dropped from IL-76 and AN-32 aircraft.

The combat exercise also included the deployment of a comprehensive communication and data linking systems incorporating Battlefield Surveillance System (BSS) and Force Multiplier Command Post (FMCP).

The exercise witnessed the Army’s Southern Command and IAF’s South Western Command joining hands to demonstrate and practise "synergised air-land operations in a mechanised and digitised environment", with the basic focus being on launching "swift offensive multiple-thrusts" to strike deep behind enemy lines. (ANI)