The Indian Army’s second strike corps in conjunction with elements of the Indian Air Force successfully conducted three-day-long Exercise Gagan Strike across multiple locations in Punjab in a bid to refine and validate operational concepts. The exercise saw greater integration of Apache and Advanced Light Helicopter Rudra in support of mechanized forces of the Indian Army.
The exercise aims to incorporate various force multipliers such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Special Forces in support of armoured operations across diverse terrains. The attack helicopters, during the exercise, also conducted live firing on targets as demanded by ground forces.
One of the key objectives of the exercise was to practice centralized as well decentralized utilization of attack helicopter missions in a dense air defence environment. UAVs were also tasked to operate in the same hostile environment. The attack choppers also engaged planned and impromptu targets during the exercise showcasing the skill of the pilots and the technological advancement of the flying predators.
Commanders on the ground also got an opportunity to employ aerial assets both of the army and the air force in the exercise and utilized drones for increased situational awareness provided by the drones that were helping clear the proverbial fog of war.
The exercise also gave an opportunity to helicopter crew both air and ground to operate from Forward Area Re-arming And Refueling Point (FARRP) as they would do during wartime. The Army’s air defence gunners also got an opportunity to hone their skills as they defended against low-flying helicopters, as they are particularly hard to detect on radar. The exercise also saw the army’s Special Forces (SF) conduct Combat Free Fall (CFF) during Exercise Gagan Strike.
The Kharga Corps, a strike formation, was raised just prior to the 1971 War and helped liberate most of South Western Bangladesh, including important towns such as Jessore and Khulna. The corps was then moved west and since then has been the Western Command’s punch when the balloon goes up.
