MOSCOW, October 4 (RIA Novosti) – Russian paratroopers from the Eastern Military District will take part in an annual joint anti-terrorism exercise with India on October 18-28, a district’s spokesman said.
The Indra-2013 drills will be held at the Mahajan firing range in India.
“The exercise will involve some 250 paratroopers from an air assault brigade based in the Republic of Buryatia and the same number of troops from the Indian armed forces,” Lt. Col. Alexander Gordeyev said Thursday.
“During the drills, the Russian servicemen will use military hardware (T-72 main battle tanks and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles] and ammunition supplied by the Indian side,” Gordeyev said.
According to the official, the goal of the upcoming exercise is to practice joint planning and execution of anti-terrorist missions in semi-desert environment.
Since 2003, India and Russia have conducted six of the INDRA series joint ground and naval exercises. The last such exercise was held between Russian and Indian army units in August 2012 in the Siberian republic of Buryatia.
