iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
India and the US are engaged in a joint military exercise, Vajra Prahar 2023, in a Joint Training Node located in the northeastern state of Meghalaya. The military exercise that commenced on November 21 in Umroi, Meghalaya, focuses on joint planning and execution of special operations, counter-terrorism, and air-borne drills in a mountainous terrain.
The US contingent is represented by personnel from the 1st Special Forces Group (SFG) of US Special Forces and the Indian Army contingent is led by Special Forces personnel from the Eastern Command. The 14th Edition of the Indo-US Joint Special Forces exercise “Vajra Prahar 2023”, a joint exercise conducted between the Indian Army and US Army Special Forces, aims at sharing best practices and experiences in areas such as joint mission planning and operational tactics.
“Exercise Vajra Prahar has evolved as a mechanism to exchange ideas and share best practices between the Special Forces of both nations. It is also a platform to enhance interoperability and strengthen defense cooperation between the armies of India and the United States of America,” an official of India’s Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The first edition was conducted in the year 2010 in India and the 13th edition of the Indo-US Joint Special Forces exercise was conducted at the Special Forces Training School (SFTS), Bakloh in Himachal Pradesh. The current edition is being conducted in Umroi Cantonment, Meghalaya from 21st November to 11th December 2023.
During the next three weeks, both sides will jointly plan and rehearse a series of Special Operations, Counter Terrorist Operations, and Air Borne operations in simulated conventional and unconventional scenarios in mountainous terrain. The military exercises include ‘Combat free fall insertion of troops from stand-off distances’, ‘Waterborne insertion of troops’, ‘Precision engagement of targets at long ranges’, ‘Combat air controlling of fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft’ and ‘Airborne insertion and sustenance of troops’.
