The joint Indian-Russian exercise Indra-2021 will be held at the Prudboy training ground of the Southern Military District in the Volgograd region of southwest Russia from August 1 to 13.
Aimed at strengthening and developing military cooperation between the two countries, the 12th edition of the drills would involve 300 different targets, of which more than 100 are mobile, simulating enemy vehicles and armoured carriers.
"At one stage, the units will destroy a mock enemy in a specially built settlement consisting of three streets and 50 residential buildings, on the territory of which 16 mobile targets will be placed: UAZ cars and about 30 growth figures simulating illegal armed formations inside buildings," said the Russian defence ministry on Monday.
There are plans to involve about 80 servicemen of the Southern Military District of the motorized rifle unit and about 80 servicemen of the Indian Armed Forces in the events.
"The plan for the combat training of the Southern Military District in 2021 provides for the participation of the district's military personnel in international exercises with units of the armed forces of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Armenia, Algeria, India, Kazakhstan, Pakistan and Egypt,"
In a bid to prepare the military of both the countries for a joint fight against terrorism, the exercise has, for years, focused upon training on enhancing team building, special tactical level operations such as cordon and search, house intervention, handling and neutralisation of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) and integrated employment of force multipliers.
Last year, the exercise was organised in the 'non-contact, at sea only' format only in the Bay of Bengal due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Initiated in 2003, it is aimed at sending a strong message to the world with an intent of appreciation of interoperability between Indian and Russian Armies for joint tactical level operations in the peacekeeping/enforcement environment under the aegis of the United Nations.
India has always believed that every edition of the exercise is another milestone in strengthening the security cooperation between the two countries and also serves to reinforce the long-standing bond of friendship between the two countries.
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