Page 24 - ADT JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2023 Online Magazine

vations, tactics, techniques & procedures. The
participants also undertook joint planning and
drills for SF operations in a mechanised war-
fare setting as well as surgical strikes on terrorist
camps and hideouts to include sniping of high
value targets.
EX VARUNA

India and France share a close security rela-
tionship with both nations have longstanding
defence ties, stretching back more than 60
years. One of the most important exercises
series held between both nations is the ‘Varuna’
series of bilateral exercises, which have become
a hallmark of India – France strategic bilateral
relationship. The bilateral exercises between © India MoD
the two navies began in 1993 and was named
‘Varuna’ in 2001. process, where both sides utilised niche technology and artillery
observation simulators as part of a joint training phase.
“Having grown in scope and complexity over
the years, this exercise provides an opportu- EX SURYA KIRAN XVI
nity to learn from each other’s best practices, a Indian and Nepali forces participated in the 16th Edition of the
navy spokesperson said, adding that the exer- Indo-Nepal joint training Exercise “Surya Kiran-XVI” in December,
cises facilitated operational level interaction which was held at the Nepal Army Battle School in Saljhandi (Nepal).
between both navies to foster mutual cooper- The annual series of exercises is held by both armies to enhance
ation for good order at sea, underscoring the interoperability in jungle warfare & counter terrorism operations in
shared commitment of both nations to security, mountainous terrain and High availability disaster recovery (HADR)
safety and freedom of the global maritime com- under United Nations (UN) mandates. During the exercise, forces from
mons. The participating forces trained together both sides trained together to develop inter-operability and share
in advanced air defence exercises, tactical their experience including counter insurgency and counter terrorist
manoeuvres, surface firings, underway replen- operations and also on humanitarian relief operations.
ishment and other maritime operations.
Nepali troops from the army’s Shree Bhawani Baksh Battalion took
The latest edition of the exercises which were part in the exercises, while troops from the Indian Army’s 5 Gurkha
held over five days, saw the Indian Navy partic- Rifles (5 GR) participated in the exercises. The joint exercise would
ipating with its guided missile stealth destroyer focus on evolution of combined drills for planning and conduct of
INS Chennai, guided missile frigate INS Teg, tactical operations at unit level in counter terrorism operations and
MiG29K fighter jets, P-8I and Dornier maritime disaster response mechanism in general and role of armed forces in
patrol aircraft and integral helicopters. The management of disaster.
French Navy was represented by the aircraft
carrier Charles De Gaulle, frigates FS Forbin EX KAZIND-22
and Provence, support vessel FS Marne and The 6th Edition of the Indo - Kazakhstan joint training exer-
Rafale-M fighter jets and Atlantique maritime cise “KAZIND-22” took place in the North Eastern Indian state of
patrol aircraft. Meghalaya in December. Indian and Kazakhstan armies have been
EX AGNI WARRIOR training together since 2016 under Exercise Prabal Dostyk. After
India and Singapore also share a growing being upgraded to a company level exercise it was renamed as Ex
KAZIND in 2018.
defence relationship with both sides having reg-
ular training exercises with each other. The most Kazakhstan Army soldiers comprising of troops from the Regional
recent of these, Exercise Agni Warrior, a bilat- Command, South and Indian Army soldiers from the 11 Gorkha Rifles
eral exercise between the Singapore and Indian (11 GR) took part in the exercises and trained together on undertaking
Army, took place in November 2022 at the latter’s counter terrorist operations in semi urban / jungle scenario, under
Field Firing Ranges in Devlali (Maharashtra). The a UN peace enforcement mandate. Participants also engaged in
12 edition of the exercises, involved showcasing variety of missions ranging from joint planning, joint tactical drills,
th
joint firepower planning, execution and use of basics of special arms skills, HADR and raiding a hostile target.
new generation equipment by the artillery arms The exercise scope involved a command post exercise (CPX) at the
of both armies. A joint computer war-game was battalion level and company level field training exercise (FTX) on
also conducted as part of the joint planning sub-conventional operations.
24 | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2023 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/ADT