'Brazen Chariots' to unfold warfare doctrine in Pokharan

New Delhi, Feb 4 (UNI) ''Brazen Chariots,'' a fire and manoeuvre combat exercise of the armed forces would be conducted at the Pokharan field firing range in western Rajasthan on March 19, a move seen as a departure from the traditional approach.

During the exercise, the Indian Army together with the Indian Air Force (IAF) would put to test an array of their latest weapon system acquisitions, including the state-of-the-art missile firing tanks T-90 (Bhishma), all-weather Air Defence Gun Missile systems, Searcher Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) besides other electronic sensors and surveillance equipment.

The exercise would be conducted by one of the desert formations of the Army in the sector and the IAF to project the 'manoeuvre warfare doctrine' of the armed forces, the Defence Ministry said.

Besides closely supporting the surface forces with induction of airborne troops and providing logistical support, the IAF frontline fighter aircraft -- Su-30 MKI, Jaguar, MiG-27, MiG-21 Bison and armed helicopters -- would unleash their firepower to devastating effect.

The synergy with the IAF, highlighting the shape of future operations, would be joint and seamless.

A host of foreign dignitaries and Defence Attaches of friendly foreign countries would witness the exercise aimed at putting the mechanised formations through the paces in a simulated, deep offensive scenario in a desert terrain, the Ministry added.

It said the combat exercise would also include the deployment of a comprehensive communication and data linking systems incorporating Battlefield Surveillance System (BSS) and Force Multiplier Command Post (FMCP).

Notwithstanding the hi-tech weaponry and war fighting support systems, essential pre-requisites to success in battle, the exercise would most certainly challenge the military leadership at various levels as their ability to synergise the application of the state-of-the-art weapon platforms towards achieving optimum results aimed at causing pre-emption, disruption and dislocation of enemy forces will be tested, the Defence Ministry added.

Exercise Brazen Chariots has been conceptualised for exercising combat groups consisting of tanks, infantry combat vehicles and Infantry in high Mobility Vehicles, ably supported by air and complimented by weapon platforms of supporting arms and combat logists in essential tactical applications on the battlefield.

UNI AG VD GC2001