The Russian-Indian joint Indra military drills will involve three branches of the armed forces and may be held every year in the future, the chief of the Russian General Staff said on Wednesday.
Gen. Nikolai Makarov, who is on a three-day official visit to India, spoke after meeting his Indian counterpart, Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik, and other top military commanders.
"We have agreed that the Indra exercises in 2011 will involve the Ground Forces, the Navy and the Air Force," Makarov said, adding that they could be held annually from next year.
The Indian and Russian military have conducted Indra joint biennial exercises since 2003, but the drills have never involved all three branches of the armed forces.
The latest drills were held in October 2010 in the Indian Himalayas.
Russia sent more than 200 troops from its 34th mountain brigade, based in the North Caucasus, to join the Indian troops in the exercises.
NEW DELHI, December 8 (RIA Novosti)
