By Franz-Stefan Gady
The 2017 iteration of the Indo-Russian Indra bilateral military drill will involve personnel from all three service branches from both Indian and Russia, the Indian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said in an October 16 press statement.
“The year 2017 marks a major milestone as this exercise has been upgraded to involve all the three services of the armed Forces (Army, Navy, & Air Force), which further accentuates the importance of joint services in the present world environment,” the statement reads.
According to a spokesperson of the Russian Pacific Fleet, the Russian military will participate in Indra-2017 with naval and air elements of the Russian Pacific Fleet, as well as aviation units and the ground forces of the Eastern Military District.
“Exercise INDRA-2017 will be conducted at the 249th Combined Army Range Sergeevisky and in the Sea of Japan near Vladivostok. The Indian contingent will comprise of 350 personnel from Army, 80 from Air Force, two IL 76 aircraft, and one Frigate and Corvette each from the Navy,” the Indian MoD states. “The Russian Federation Armed Forces will be represented by approximately 1000 troops of the 5th Army, Marines and Ships of Pacific Fleet, and aircraft from Eastern Military District.”
Since its beginning in 2003, the Indra military drill has alternatively involved Indian and Russian ground and naval forces. In 2016, Indra was held from December 14 to December 21 in the Indian port of Visakhapatnam and the Bay of Bengal. Both countries also conducted a joint counterterrorism exercise under the Indra framework in 2016. “The exercise involved around 500 military personnel from both sides and focused on counterterrorism operations under a United Nations mandate,” as I explained.
https://thediplomat.com/2017/10/india-russia-to-kick-off-major-military-exercise-this-week/
