Exercise to practise airborne landing launched in Ladakh
As the stand-offs persist at some friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, the Indian Army has launched an exercise there to practise airborne landing to hone its rapid response capabilities. Troops are also carrying out combat drills to ensure operational readiness.
The Shatrujeet Brigade (nearly 3,000 troops) is conducting an airborne insertion along the northern borders in Eastern Ladakh, sources said here on Monday. The complex drills commenced on Monday and will continue for some days in an effort to familiarise the troops with the rugged area and harsh winters, they added.
Giving details of the exercise, they said on Monday, airborne troops were inserted to a drop zone at an altitude of more than 14,000 feet. Pre-acclamatised troops along with specialist vehicles and missile detachments were transported via C-130 and AN-32 aircraft from five different mounting bases to validate inter-theatre move, precision stand-off drops, rapid grouping, capture of designated objectives with speed and surprise.
Highlighting the degree of difficulty, sources said the drop was particularly challenging due to the low temperatures of up to minus 20 degrees and rarefied atmosphere in super high altitude terrain.
The exercise also involves conduct of oxygen combat free fall jumps and integrated battle drills by airborne forces comprising highly skilled paratroopers and special forces commandos, mechanised columns and attack helicopters, validating capabilities and seamless integration.
The exercise comes at a time when more than 50,000 troops each of India and China are deployed in front at the LAC in Ladakh since the face-offs started in May last year.
Not willing to take any chances, the two sides remained deployed throughout the harsh winters there last year and will do so this winter too, sources said.
Army Chief General MM Naravane had visited the front posts at the LAC in October to review the operational preparedness. IAF chief VR Chaudhari also visited the zone some weeks back for the same purpose.
China recently carried out a military drill in the Tibetan plateau on its side of the LAC in Ladakh to test the readiness of its forces. In addition, it has activated many helipads close to the LAC in that area for quick deployment in case of any threat.
The two countries have held 13 rounds of Corps Commander-level talks since last year when the LAC flared up. India has all along reiterated that complete disengagement from all the friction points is the prerequisite for normalising ties between the two countries.
The 13th round held in early October did not yield any positive results and the two countries will shortly have another round of diplomatic level talks to find ways for early withdrawal of troops. These talks will be held between the officials of the two foreign Ministries under the aegis of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China border affairs (WMCC).