IAF to hold 'Exercise Maha Gajraj' with Indian Army

[SpArK]

IAF to hold 'Exercise Maha Gajraj' with Indian Army

: Nov 01, 2011

NEW DELHI (PTI): The Indian Air Force (IAF) will deploy its major frontline combat aircraft including the Su-30, Jaguars and the Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) in a massive joint exercise codenamed 'Maha Gajraj' with the Indian Army over the western desert in Rajasthan.

All major war-fighting equipment will be deployed in the joint exercise with the Army over Pokharan in Rajasthan, senior IAF officials told PTI here.

The exercise, which will mainly have the aerial assets under the Gandhinagar-based South Western Air Command, will start in November and culminate in December.

The SWAC area of responsibility extends from Rajasthan to Maharashtra and has several important bases such as Jodhpur, Naliya, Bhuj, Jamnagar and Pune under it.

It also looks after the maritime security aspect of the western region and has aircraft such as the Su-30MKI, maritime Jaguars, MiG 27 and MiG 21s under it.

During the exercise, the IAF will validate its war-fighting doctrines and practice joint manoeuvres with the Army troops on ground.

The Army bit of the exercise has been codenamed 'Sudarshan Shakti' and will involve over 50,000 troops and over 200 main battle tanks mainly from the Bhopal-based 21 Strike Corps and the Jodhpur-based 12 Corps.

The two Services will hold the wargames under SWAC Commander Air Marshal Anjan Kumar Gogoi and Southern Army Commander Lt Gen A K Singh.

IAF to hold 'Exercise Maha Gajraj' with Indian Army - Brahmand.com

 

[angeldemon_007]

I think we should condcut a fare amount of exercises in eastern front also.

 

[aanshu001]

I think we should condcut a fare amount of exercises in eastern front also.

completely agree with you..

 

[Nirvana]

Agree with @Angeldemon , We should Start Conducting Such Excercises on Eastern front too

 

[Urbanized Greyhound]

We need more exercises showcasing synergy between IAF and Army on our eastern front and exercises involving IN and the other forces in IOR region . The Western border seems quite secure for now, our weaknesses lie in the Eastern front and the IOR which we must begin to Iron out. These are predicted to be the main flashpoints in the future.

 

[pmukherjee]

I think we should condcut a fare amount of exercises in eastern front also.

How? Where is the place for the exercises in the east? The eastern parts of our country are among the most densely populated. Rajasthan has hundreds of miles where armoured formations can move and exercise in tactical formation with little obstruction. There are field firing ranges here where live firing including by the Air Force can be carried out. No such joy in the east. Moreover, the areas where we exercise should be as close as possible to the likely theaters of war. That is why we have exercises in Punjab and Rajasthan. The other thing is that the areas in the east are riverine, ie, full of rivers and nallahs, unsuitable for large scale tank warfare.

---------- Post added at 09:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:44 PM ----------

We need more exercises showcasing synergy between IAF and Army on our eastern front and exercises involving IN and the other forces in IOR region . The Western border seems quite secure for now, our weaknesses lie in the Eastern front and the IOR which we must begin to Iron out. These are predicted to be the main flashpoints in the future.

Aah you are talking of exercises in the mountains. They are happening all the time. Don't get into the media much but they do take place at regular intervals.

 

[angeldemon_007]

How? Where is the place for the exercises in the east?

Buddy we fought a war there it will be wise to get ready for every possible terrain.

The eastern parts of our country are among the most densely populated.

What the hell are you talking about ? First of all northern part is most densely populated especially Ganga plains. Next its clear in NE we will have to prepare for mountain warfare so we should prepare accordingly. Next comes population density, Sikkim is full of mountains and it has very less population. As far as land to conduct such exercise is concerned, IA has enough land in Assam and Nagaland and new lands are being acquired in Sikkim also.

Rajasthan has hundreds of miles where armoured formations can move and exercise in tactical formation with little obstruction.

What is that suppose to mean ? Just because Rajasthan has land for armored formation doesn't mean don't face danger in the north-eastern sector. Of course the nature of the war will be different from what will happen on western front but thats why we need to have exercise on this front so that IA can establish a separate strategy for this front.

There are field firing ranges here where live firing including by the Air Force can be carried out. No such joy in the east.

Thats not true. Although infrastructure for this is very less in NE but thats what i am saying we have to prepare all this and conduct some exercise.

The other thing is that the areas in the east are riverine, ie, full of rivers and nallahs, unsuitable for large scale tank warfare.

Yeah and thats why we need to prepare accordingly otherwise when needed we won't be able to perform. As far as danger of war is concerned, who cares, whats the problem in being prepared ? I mean we are conducting more than a dozen exercises on western front along-with friendly nations whats wrong in having a couple exercise in NE after-all everyone nowadays is crying about China.

 

[Thundersword]

Are the Arjuns participating???

 

[Urbanized Greyhound]

Aah you are talking of exercises in the mountains. They are happening all the time. Don't get into the media much but they do take place at regular intervals.

In your opinion why do you think that is ?

Seems to me if we had news of our defense preparations on the China front , our media would not go paranoid over ever small military development on the Chinese side. It would help in reassurance a lot.

 

[SQ8]

What is a SWAC?

 

[Skull and Bones]

What is a SWAC?

South Western Air Command.

 

[SEAL]

What is a SWAC?

South Western Air command.

 

[SQ8]

Oh.. I thought it was some acronym for a new IBG or something.. same old same old.

 

[karan.1970]

Not pom pommed, but Cold start maneuvers are on the menu

 

[Kabang Dai]

How much indian army form doctrines or conduct exercises,they will never win any war.PERIOD.