Dec 27, 2011

Exercise Sudarshan Shakti, a joint exercise of Southern Army and South Western Air Command is ongoing as per a Ministry of Defence Press release. Approximately 50,000 troops along with T-90, T-72, Arjun Tanks and BMPs will carry out simulated assaults on their objectives with the Artillery and IAF providing the support. The Exercise will be witnessed by the Supreme Commander of Armed Forces, the President of India, Mrs Pratibha Devisingh Patil on 05 December. The President will be accompanied by the Raksha Mantri, Mr AK Antony, Chief of Army Staff, General VK Singh, and other senior dignitaries. "This exercise will be a trendsetter for the Integrated Theatre Concept," said the release adding, “the transformation of the force is [directed] at making the Army a more agile, versatile, lethal and networked force. In this exercise, we will be trying out new structures, strategies, and test beds of an integrated, seamless air-land battle."

The training was progressively structured to build on from the smallest unit upwards and the entire Southern Army is being put through its paces in a simulated battlefield environment. In this overall effort, Network Centric Warfare (NCW) is one of the crucial aspects being validated. The endeavour has been to validate and integrate the use of all available assets, including Satellites, UAVs and HUMINT to assist commanders in taking dynamic and proactive operational action in a fluid battlefield. Another important facet being validated is the real-time sensor-to-shooter loop, which enables commanders to take instant decisions even as information is shared among platforms and personnel to order the weapons to be deployed. Network Centric Warfare provides shared information of the battle space among armed forces and is an integral part of the ongoing transformational studies. [PIB Report].

Satellites and UAV integration has also been tested in the ongoing exercise 'Sudharshan Shakti' to provide a real-time picture and information to battlefield commanders. The Air Force component of the exercise is being named as Gajraj-2011. Fighter aircraft from Jodhpur, Bikaner and Uttarlai airbases will take part in the exercise. The South Western Air Command in Gandhinagar will supervise. Advanced Light Helicopter ‘Rudra’, developed by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will also be tested. Rudra has features like automatic flight system, is fitted with air-to-air and anti-tank missiles and 114 Rudra helicopters are expected to be inducted. [Based on Bhaskar report].

In the air phase, South Western Air Command (SWAC) also conducted Ex MahaGujarat in Gujarat and Rajasthan from November 20 to December 13 to test new concepts and will include Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS), Flight Refueller Aircraft and new radars with networking to impart a realistic training in sub-conventional and conventional operations to air warriors in the annual exercise. Jaguars, MiG-29, MiG-27, Bison, Sukhoi-30 MKI and Mirage-2000 would be taking part. This will be followed up with the aircraft joining the Army Sudershan Shakti.

The exercise planned by South Western Air Command (SWAC) in Gujarat and Rajasthan with the army as well possibly the Coast Guard and the Navy in Gujarat would provide the momentum for integrating the air defence and the combat resources smoothly to meet the challenges that are evident in the days ahead. With the Mumbai 26/11 attack only three years past there is still a sense of foreboding given vulnerability of strikes by terrorist groups across the border as well as a need for preparing for conventional operations. Both these requirements would have to be met by optimising resources and jointness and networking. There appears to have been some thought given to these issues and thus how they are implemented on the ground during the exercise remains to be seen. The focus of the Army phase would be on the rehearsals being held in the paradigm of Cold Start and thus should provide the necessary integration for the operations as and when required.

Article by Same Author