Indo-Russian war drills in South Sudan-like scenario: Army

BIKANER: Troops of India and Russia are engaging each other in war games codenamed exercise "Indra" at the Mahajan range under scenarios and situations resembling South Sudan where Indian troops are presently deployed as part of UN peacekeeping mission and face similar challenges.

The joint field exercise between troops of the two countries began on October 22 and plans to carry out an anti-terrorist operation, involving the destruction of illegal armed formations. Russian troops will be using Indian military equipments, including the T-72 and BMP-2.

"The essence of the exercise was under the UN peacekeeping environment. When we thought about this exercise, it was something akin to South Sudan which is where we are still operating," Brig VM Chandran, commander of the 6th Independent Armoured Brigade said.

Elaborating about the current terrain, he said the Chidasa village here was made to resemble places in South Sudan.

"This village has always been used for such exercises and we planned and constructed the houses in such a way that it s akin to buildings of South Sudan," he said.

In April, a Lt Colonel was among the five army personnel killed when their 32-member convoy came under attack in Gurmuck in the volatile state of Jonglei, South Sudan. Four others were injured in the attack.

There are around 2,200 Indian army personnel operating in Sudan.