The major aerial
exercise ‘Poorvi Akash’ held across the Northeastern States along the China
border by the Indian Air Force included joint operations with the Army and
involved high-tech lethal weapons such as the ‘Sudarshan’ S-400 air defence
missile systems.
‘Sudarshan’ chakra
is the main weapon of Bhagwan Shri Krishna. The Indian Air Force led by Air
Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari has named the S-400 air defence missile systems
imported from Russia after the Sudarshan chakra as Sudarshan.
“The Indian Air
Force exercise had operations by major platforms including the S-400 air
defence missile systems, the Rafale and Tejas fighter jets along with the
Prachand light combat helicopters in the northeastern region,” said defence
officials.
The wargames were
carried out by the Eastern Air Command (EAC) codenamed ‘Poorvi Akash’ from
October 30 to November 4.
The major exercise
showcased the operational readiness capabilities of the Indian Air Force and
the Eastern Air Command in particular, they said.
The Eastern Air
Command (EAC) is one of the lethal arms of the Indian Air Force which controls
air operations over a vast area of over three lakh square kilometres that
straddles 12 states including the seven states of North-East India.
Officials said the
objective of ‘Exercise Poorvi Akash’ was the application of air power in all
its roles including defensive and offensive operations and reactions to various
perceived threats and was conducted by day and night.
It also aimed at
fine-tuning the synergy of operations undertaken jointly by the Indian Army and
the IAF.
“The exercise
comprised joint operations with the Eastern Command (EC) of the Indian Army in
the challenging and varied terrain of the eastern sector and involved the
activation of the entire Eastern Sector.
“The Garud Special
Forces also participated in special missions along with the Special Forces (SF)
of the Indian Army. The air defence assets of the two services were also
deployed to simulate realistic battle scenarios,” officials said highlighting
the range of operations undertaken jointly by the two services.
Indian Air Force
chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari was in the northeastern sector during the
exercise while Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan had taken part in a
tabletop exercise in Shillong prior to the beginning of Ex Poorvi Akash.
The CDS and
services chiefs are working together to achieve jointness and integration among
the forces as they move towards creating theatre commands for joint warfighting
in the future.
A wide range of
operations, maintenance and administrative activities were conducted to check
operational preparedness and carry out realistic training.
As part of the
exercise, the indigenous Light Combat Helicopter Prachand’ also landed at a
high-elevation Advance Landing Ground on one of its first such deployments,
carrying out joint training with ground forces, alongside other combat
platforms and systems. The indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft Tejas’
and the heavy-lift Chinook Helicopters were among other air assets that were
deployed in various missions as part of the exercise.
The exercise
culminated on 04 November after a very huge number of sorties were conducted by
the IAF and many synergy goals with the Army were achieved during its conduct.
ANI
