Indian Army, Air Force hold joint military exercise in West Bengal

Jalpaiguri, Feb 25 (ANI): The Indian Army and Air Force conducted a joint exercise in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district to test battlefield preparedness.

Troops of the Trisakti Corps of the Indian Army and Air Force personnel held a firepower demonstration at the Bagrakote firing range on Tuesday.

Some of the most powerful weapons in the Indian armory like Bofors guns, T-27 guns from the artillery and MiG-27, MiG-17 and Cheetah helicopters from the Air Force took part in the exercise.

Officials said the objective was to test battlefield tactics.

"It was a joint exercise between the Army and the Air Force. The objective was to make our battlefield tactics more stronger," said RK Das, public relations officer, ministry of Defence.

India is integrating its three armed forces-the army, navy and the air force-and increasing security along its coasts after militants from Pakistan attacked Mumbai from the sea route.

The country is also looking to spend more than 30 billion dollars over the next five years to modernise its largely Soviet-era weapons systems. It is also launching its first military spy satellite next year. (ANI)