The Indian Army and Air Force carried out a joint exercise to assess their logistics supply chain. This exercise was held at a time when the Indian armed forces are preparing for another winter of enhanced deployment of over 50,000 troops in Ladakh amid continuing tensions with China.
The aim of this high intensity airlift was to strengthen the supply chain in the Northern sector and augment winter stocking in operational areas, a statement from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
Temperatures have begun to drop and will fall to minus 30-40 degrees during peak winter. The Indian forces are geared up for enhanced deployment in the harsh winter for a second successive year.
The exercise named ‘Operation Hercules’ was undertaken by the Indian Air Force and Indian Army on November 15 with transport aircraft of the IAF being pressed into action.
The platforms utilised for the airlift were C-17, IL-76 and An-32 aircraft, which took off from one of the forward bases of Western Air Command.
“The effort was a real-time demonstration of the inherent heavy-lift capability of the Indian Air Force, which has played a major role in ensuring the ability to quickly respond to any contingency during the past,” the MoD said in a statement.
Earlier this month, the Indian Army carried out an exercise for airborne insertion at more than 14,000 feet.
Troops, along with specialist vehicles and missile detachments were transported via C-130 and AN 32 aircraft from five different mounting bases to validate inter-theatre movement, precision stand-off drops, rapid grouping, and capture of designated objects with speed and surprise.
Since May last year, the Indian Army has enhanced its deployment amid the military tussle with China.
After 13 rounds of military talks, there has been no breakthrough for a final resolution even though disengagement has taken place at the friction points.
However, as the deadlock continues there are no signs of a de-induction of troops and armour and a complete de-escalation is yet to be achieved.
