Indian Army progresses integrated warfare strategy

The Indian Army exercised with the K9 Vajra-T self-propelled howitzer along the border with Pakistan. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)

The South Western Command (SWC) of the Indian Army has conducted an Integrated Battle Group (IBG) exercise along the country's western border with Pakistan.

The integrated firepower exercise took place on 21 November and was conducted by the SWC's Chetak Corps (X Corps) at the Mahajan Field Firing Range (MFFR) in the Thar Desert, Rajasthan.

During the exercise, attended by Janes , the Indian Army performed a series of combat operations and displayed firepower on different land and air platforms. The IBG exercise also demonstrated the joint operations of the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.

The Indian Army demonstrated Light Combat Helicopters, K9 Vajra-T self-propelled howitzers (SPHs), 155 mm Sharang artillery guns, T-72 main battle tanks (MBTs), Grad BM-21 multiple rocket launcher, BMP-2K Sarath infantry combat vehicles (ICVs), and T-90 MBTs.

A senior Indian Army official told Janes that the exercise was conducted as part of the Indian Army's efforts to progress the IBG concept.

“The exercise was aimed towards achieving integrated fire delivery,” the official said. “The exercise highlighted the readiness of joint operations under the IBG concept.”

The drill also demonstrated the strategy of the Indian Army's future combat operations, the official added.

The exercise was initiated by the Indian Air Force by launching smart anti-airfield weapons (SAAWs) from its Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft on a target. The air force also fired missiles from Apache multirole combat helicopters, Rudra advanced light helicopters, Chetak helicopters, and Light Combat Helicopters.