Second part of 'Yudh Abhyas-06' commences in Hawaii

New Delhi, Sep 6 (UNI) The second phase of the joint Indo-US counter-insurgency training exercise 'Yudh Abhyas' -- one of the largest so far -- began in Hawaii today.

''Yudh Abhyas-06-ii is the follow up to Yudh Abhyas-06-i, conducted in India in January. This phase, taking place at the Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, differs from the earlier in focussing on counter-insurgency (CI) ops in urban terrain unlike the earlier one which trained for CI ops in a forested and under-developed setting,'' Army and US Embassy officials said.

The exercise, which lasts till September 23, features a company-strength force from the Indian Army as well as 20 personnel from the Indian Air Force's elite 'Garud' Commando Force, and command and control elements, partnered with troops from the US Pacific Command's 25th Infantry Division, training in realistic conditions, including with live ammunition, they said.

''The basic focus of the exercise is the counter-insurgency motif, interposed on what the US military terms Military Operations on Urban Terrain (MOUT),'' a senior Army official told UNI, adding it would enable both sides share their accumulated expertise in 'uncoventional war' in inhabited and built-up areas as well as further refine their 'standard operating procedures (SOPs)'.

'Yudh Abhyas-06-i, in January this year, had focused on counter-terrorist operations in forest and under-developed terrain with the thickly forested environs of Ranikhet, the scattered settlements, the altitude and the prevailing winter conditions making the exercise setting unique and set it apart from the North East -- the venue for previous 'Yudh Abhyas' series which had begun in 2004. The Indian troops were ferried to Hawaii in an IAF Il-76 transport aircraft, which will stay there for the duration of the exercise, with the crew using the opportunity to train on airlift missions at the US Air Force's Hickham Air Base, the officials said.

Meanwhile, some personnel from the Indian Army's Aviation wing are training at the Wainwright Air Base on the 'Kiowa Warrior' attack helicopter (OH58D) as well as the UH-60 Black Hawks, the officials said.

In another development, Army's Additional Director General Military Operations (A) Maj Gen Mukesh Sabbarwal will be journeying to Fiji next week to participate in the 'Pacific Armies Management Seminar (PAMS)-2006.' A bi-annual event, co-sponsored by the US Army's Pacific Command, the seminar was last held in India in 2004.

UNI VD AT KN1745