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Army to unfold 'Poorna Vijay' battlefield exercises

The Indian Army is about to unfold its first-ever battlefield training exercises in early May in the backdrop of country's nuclear capability.

"It will be a number of exercises collectively labelled operation Poorna Vijay to evaluate concepts and practice battle procedures during offensive and defensive operations in the nuclear backdrop," an army spokesman said in New Delhi.

The go-ahead for holding such exercises was given during the just concluded army commanders conference and the war-games seek to enhance army's operational preparedness with tactical exercises with troops under live firing, simulated battle conditions and at field-firing ranges.

The corp level exercises in which the Indian Air Force will interdict by launching ground attack formations and carry out deep insertion of airborne and heli-borne troops will also test challenges of nuclear, chemical and biological strikes, the spokesman said.

The first war-games of 2001 will feature armour, artillery, and engineers conducting breakthrough operations in obstacle-ridden terrain, while other formations like the mechanised forces would be put through their paces in mobile format in the Thar desert.

"The emphasis will be on mission accomplishment on a conventional battlefield with a nuclear backdrop," the army spokesman said.

He said special forces of the army, the para-commando battalions would also participate in the exercises by launching deep penetration attacks on the enemy's rear.

Also being put through their paces will be major airborne forces who along with airborne heavy equipment will be air-dropped during night to assist advancing mechanised forces.

The spokesman said during the war-games, focus will be on mobilisation procedures, movement, verifying and efficacy of the vast communications network required in war.

He said the war-games would culminate in an operational evaluation of the effect of integrated firepower in a combined arms battle, which would be conducted at field firing ranges under simulated conditions.

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