Idea is to see what is learned about Indian forces in these exercises. Equipment, tactics, morals, training for what missions etc....
Starting here with 11th Annual Yudh Abhyas in US for 2015.
Pacific Focus brings Indian troops to JBLM for 1st Time
As they prepared to welcome about 150 Indian Army soldiers to their installation for the first time, the soldiers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, didn't know what to expect.
"A lot of guys had worked with the Iraqis and the Afghans, and the attitude was 'we're going to have to teach them and hold their hands,' but it's been the opposite," said Sgt. 1st Class Michael Zehring, the platoon sergeant for 1st Platoon, B Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment. "These guys are well trained, they're highly motivated. They can do anything we ask them to do or that we show them to do because that's how they already do things."
The Indian Army soldiers are at Joint Base Lewis-McChord for Exercise Yudh Abhyas, an annual bilateral exercise between India and the United States. This is the first time the exercise, which is in its 11th year, has taken place on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
The Indian soldiers, from the 9th Mountain Brigade and its subordinate 6th Kumaon Battalion, arrived right around Labor Day, and they will be on post until Sept. 23, when the exercise culminates with a company-level live-fire field training exercise.
While they're in the U.S., they are training and working alongside soldiers from 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry, which is part of the newly renamed 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. The brigade, which is assigned to the 7th Infantry Division at JBLM, previously was known as 3rd SBCT, 2nd Infantry Division.
The exercise with the Indians, which takes place during the even years in India and during the odd years in the U.S., is at JBLM this year to reinforce the Army's focus on the Pacific, said Brig. Gen. Rob Ulses, deputy commanding general for support for the 7th Infantry Division.
"We have forces assigned here who work the Pacific [area of operations], and with the rebalance to the Pacific, I think [Army leaders] wanted to showcase that," Ulses said.
In addition to the Indians, JBLM also is playing host to about 400 Japanese soldiers for the annual Rising Thunder exercise. The training, at Yakima Training Area, allows the Japanese room to maneuver their big vehicles and weapon systems, Ulses said.
"They, more than Yudh Abhyas, drive the training that's conducted so they can get what they need out of the training, but we use it as an opportunity to work on interoperability and our relationship," Ulses said.
The Japanese soldiers are training alongside a battalion of soldiers from 2nd SBCT, 2nd Infantry Division, and they're working on combined arms maneuver training, Ulses said.
"It's very unique that we have both the Japanese and Indian armies here," Ulses said. "It demonstrates the rebalance to the Pacific, but it also strengthens our capabilities and interoperability. For instance, if something were to happen, whether it's a shooting crisis or humanitarian crisis, we would have already done this exchange and we're not learning on the fly. We're building trust and confidence with our partners."
The Indian soldiers flew into JBLM on their own C-17 carrying their own equipment, Ulses said.
While they're in the U.S., they will simultaneously conduct a command post exercise that focuses on running a United Nations peacekeeping operation at the brigade level, a field training exercise focusing on counter-insurgency operations, and expert academic discussions on topics such as regional security, emerging challenges and the Army operating concept.
Since the exercise's opening ceremony on Sept. 9, the soldiers have been working on individual, team and squad level training.
The soldiers are focusing on weapons training, small unit tactical training and leader development, mixing classroom instruction with time on the range or in the field, said Lt. Col. Teddy Kleisner, commander of 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry.
The goal is to prepare them for the company-level culminating event, where the soldiers will be required to conduct a cordon and search operation to seize high-value targets in a contested town as part of a major peacekeeping operation, Kleisner said.
On a typical day, the American soldiers show up at 6 a.m. to conduct physical fitness training with the Indians, Zehring said.
"So far we've played soccer, ultimate football, we've run – they're excellent runners," he said.
The soldiers then reconvene at 9 a.m. to begin the day's training, he said.
The soldiers have shot each other's weapons – the Indian Army uses the INSAS rifle.
The Indians were also very interested in the Stryker, which is a vehicle they don't have, Zehring said.
"They were very interested in spare tires, and I only say that because about 15 people asked about spare tires," he said. "I have a feeling if they have wheeled vehicles, they get flat tires quite a bit."
The Indians enjoyed learning about the Stryker's weapon systems and how an infantry unit can fight from the vehicle or use it as a rolling platform for cover and concealment, Zehring said.
The two infantry units have not had too much trouble integrating, even with a language barrier, particularly among the enlisted soldiers, Kleisner said.
"Because they're a competent army, when we say, 'hey, we're going to go seize this house,' we don't have to discuss it too much because they know what seizing a house looks like, and we know what seizing a house looks like," he said. "It's been cool to see it all come together."
It has also been easy to operate together, Kleisner said.
"Interoperability is actually easier at the tactical level," he said. "You see two different types of rifles, but they shoot the same type of ammo. To us, that's interoperable. Our tactics are interoperable, how we shoot, move and communicate."
Where issues could arise, potentially, is if the two units were to share communications equipment, Kleisner said, adding that for this exercise the Indians will use American equipment.
The Indian Army also doesn't commonly use night-vision goggles, which could translate into different considerations when planning operations.
"Night vision devices proliferate in our formations. For them, that is not the case," Kleisner said. "We've seen the difference in decision-making. Where we'd say we'd go in under the cover of darkness, they would come in a first light."
So far, the Indian soldiers have defied the soldiers' expectations.
"What's great for us to see is the general level of competence that we see in the Indian Army," Kleisner said. "It increases the amount of trust we have in them as future partners. It's good for us as a unit to experience this. We all have experience with the Iraqi and Afghan armies, where we trained them from the ground floor."
Outside of work, the Indian and American soldiers have been enjoying cultural exchanges and team-building events.
"Soldier to soldier, that's a great way to exchange culture and develop friendships and partnerships," Ulses said.
Despite some initial uncertainty or language barriers, it has not been difficult to integrate the Indians with the American soldiers, Ulses said.
"Quite frankly, when you're dealing with soldiers, soldiers kind of speak a universal language," he said. "Soldiering is soldiering."
The Indian soldiers are staying on post, and the Americans have been making sure they're well taken care of, Kleisner said. This includes visiting nearby Ruby Beach and catching a Seattle Mariners game or spending time on post.
"And I know throughout the ranks people are trading things," Zehring said. "Patches for patches, Leathermans for Army knives from the Indians. It's what the boys do."
The Indians also are sharing some of their culture – since they are eating at the brigade's dining facility on post, they brought one of their one of their cooks, their own spices and some jasmine rice.
{He means basmati rice!}{/I]
"They're able to augment our chow hall to make sure things are not excessively bland," Kleisner said. "It's been cool for our cooks to get that side of the training. It's some of the fun things on the side we have going on."
U.S. Soldiers with the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division
U.S. Soldiers with the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division and Indian Army troops from the 6th Battalion of the Kumaon Regiment, discuss tactics learned during close quarter battle drills during Yudh Abhyas 15 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Sept. 11. Yudh Abhyas is a joint U.S.-Indian Army bilateral Theater Security Cooperation Program exercise that provides both the U.S. and Indian Armies the opportunity to share combat experiences and skills. (Photo: Army)
So far, the feedback from his soldiers as well as the Indians has been positive, Kleisner said.
"There's definitely positive rapport between our ranks," he said. "We're impressed with their level of tactical competence, and they're impressed with our level of leader empowerment."
The Indian officers have already remarked about the role noncommissioned officers play in the U.S. Army, Kleisner said.
"Their NCOs seem competent, and they want to take the initiative, but I think they're just not empowered like ours are," he said.
Kleisner said his soldiers are learning lessons that will boost their ability to work with foreign partners.
"As an expeditionary Army, an Army that's going to deploy and work with international partners, this is giving us an opportunity to rehearse our integration with a foreign unit … so these aren't lessons we have to learn when we end up in combat with a foreign partner," he said. "What we'll end up doing is take a lot of lessons from this that will help us no matter where we go."
The big idea seems to be joint operations for a post nuclear field.
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SSridhar wrote:Let me post here, the exercises that the Indian Armed Forces conduct with forces of various other nations.
India-US
The Malabar series of exercise between the two navies was started in c. 1992, and it has since then evolved into involving integrated air and missile defense, antisubmarine and naval special warfare scenarios. India and the US signed a Framework for Maritime Security Co-operation in 2006. The increasing trust between the armed forces of the two countries led IAF to take part in the prestigious Red Flag exercise in circa 2008, and increase the complexity and sophistication of the Malabar series of the already on-going naval exercises. The increasing cooperation in counter-terrorism and intelligence sharing, especially after the Mumbai 26/11 attacks in c. 2008, made the two countries come together even closer. The IAF has since then been more or less a permanent fixture in what is generally acknowledged as the “Mother of all air combat exercises”, the Red Flag Exercises at Nellis Air Force base in Nevada. Thus after 45 years, the IAF and the USAF began to take part in bilateral exercises. In 1963, after the Chinese attack in c. 1962, India and the US had instituted ‘Op. Siksha’ which folded up very quickly as the US regime changed. Within a span of nine years, India and the US had conducted 60 joint military exercises by c. 2013. In September 2011, the Indian and American Coast Guard teams also began to engage with each other. By c. 2010, the two countries had conducted over 50 joint military exercises of increasing complexity in a span of only seven years, including nine exercises in circa 2010 alone, indicating the extent of growth of their ties. By c. 2010, India had also become the country with which the U.S. had the maximum number of joint defence exercises. The US and Indian Armies conduct three exercises every year, Vajra Prahar (between Special Forces), Shatrujeet (for counter insurgency and counter terrorism) and Yudh Abhyas (‘War Drill’ for infantry and armoured corps). Increasingly, Indian Army, Air Force and Navy conduct joint annual bilateral exercises with their American counterpart units as far away as Alaska or Okinawa (Habu Nag series of war games and joint amphibious exercises, the annual Salvage Exercises, SALVEX, between the two navies that are to do with techniques associated with diving and salvage etc). In c. 2012, the Indian Navy also joined the largest war game, led by the US Navy, Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) though no warship from the IN actually participated. It was only in c. 2014 that Indian Navy’s ships and aircraft took part in these exercises. In October 2012, the Indian and the US navies kicked off a deep-sea underwater rescue exercise using the DSRV (Deep Sea Rescue Vehicle) of the US Navy. This was a revival of the 1997 contract between the two navies which was rescinded by the US Government after the 1998 Pokhran explosion. By c. 2010, India was also conducting more exercises with American forces than with any other nation in the world. The interaction between the armed forces of India and the US had therefore become comprehensive, multi-dimensional and deep-rooted. It was during PM Modi's visit to the US in September 2014 that it was also agreed to further upgrade the level of the annual Malabar series of naval exercises. Already, the Malabar exercise is diverse including operation of aircraft carriers, maritime interdiction, combat fighters etc.
India-Australia
During a historic visit to Australia in June 2013, the Indian Defence Minister, A.K.Antony and his Australian counterpart issued a joint statement stating that a bilateral maritime exercise between the two navies will be held in c. 2015. India and Australia had participated together in multilateral maritime exercises in Malabar in 2007 and in Milan in 2012. The Indian Navy was invited to the October, 2013 International Fleet Review (IFR) in Sydney. In the trilateral dialogue involving India, Japan and Australia held in New Delhi in June 2015, maritime security, including freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and trilateral maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean were primarily discussed. Unnamed Indian defence sources claimed that India, Japan and Australia had decided to deepen their ties in all sectors, especially in the field of maritime security. It was also said that “Discussion on a possible trilateral naval exercise was held but no decision has been taken”. The first naval exercise, AUSINDEX-15, took place off Vishakapatnam during September 11-19, 2015.
India-Russia
With its long-standing friend and biggest defence supplier, Russia, India signed a “Strategic Partnership Agreement” in c. 2000. An annual INDRA-series of exercises was also instituted in c. 2003 including bi-annual peace-keeping drills. By c. 2010, India and Russia had conducted five of the Indra-series of exercises between the armies and the navies of the two nations. The two Air Forces also agreed to conduct joint exercises, Ex Avia Indra, from c. 2014. The decisions came during the Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation meeting between Indian Defence Minister A K Antony and his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoigu in Moscow just two days after the Russian-built INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier was handed over to the Indian Navy. The first exercise involving the “participation of fighter pilots, helicopter pilots, missile combat crew, as well as engineers from the Indian Air Force (IAF) along with their counterparts of the Russian Federation Air Force (RFAF)” was held near Caspian Sea between 25 Aug 2014 and 5 Sep 2014
India - France
India and France instituted the ‘Garuda’ series of exercises between their respective air forces and ‘Varuna’ between their navies. The Indian and French navies have been conducting joint exercises since c. 1983 but these were named Varuna in c. 2001 after they were upgraded in scope. In c. 2011, the two armies also conducted for the first time a two-week counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism exercise, called Op. Shakti. In September 2013, the two armies conducted a high-altitude combat exercise in the Alps under Op. Shakti.
India - UK
India and the UK had the ‘Indradanush’ series of airforce exercises. India and the UK navies also conduct annually the Konkan exercises since c. 2004. In June 2010, the Indian and the British armies instituted an annual infantry exercise codenamed, ‘Shamsheer Bugle’ alternatively in India and the UK. India and the UK also instituted an army-to-army exercise in c. 2008 called Ajeya Warrior which simulates joint operation.
India - Singapore
Singapore, entered into a Defence Cooperation Agreement with India in c. 2003 which paved the way for intense exercises between the Singaporean forces and the Indian armed forces. Though the two countries have a long-standing defence agreement dating back to the days of Mrs. Indira Gandhi and Mr. Lee Kuan Yew , it has been only in the new millennia that they have reached greater heights. The two Armies and the two Air Forces signed agreements to conduct joint exercises twice a year and the two Navies, once a year. The two armies conduct the annual ‘Kurukshetra’ series of exercises where the armour, artillery and combat groups of both nations take part. The Air Force exercise, ‘Sindex’ and the Naval exercises ‘SIMBEX’ (Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise held since c. 1994) have since then become regular affairs. Operational interaction between the Indian and Singaporean navies began with anti-submarine warfare training exercises in c. 1994. Apart from these regular exercises, the defence establishments of the two countries are involved in regular interaction through visits, courses, professional exchanges and defence technology cooperation. In addition, the Secretary-level India-Singapore Defence Policy Dialogue is an annual and regular feature. In October 2007, India and Singapore signed an agreement by which India allowed the Republic of Singapore Army to lease Indian facilities on a long term basis to locate their personnel and assets and indulge in training. In August 2008, a similar agreement allowed facilities for the Republic of Singapore Airforce. The Airforce agreement was extended in c. 2012 until c. 2017 while the Army agreement was extended in June 2013 for another five years during defence minister A.K.Antony’s visit to Singapore.
India - Thailand
Indian and Thailand navies instituted a joint co-ordinated patrol of the Andaman Sea (Indo-Thai CORPAT) in c. 2006 and which has become a bi-annual feature since then across the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). In c. 2011, they agreed to deepen this cooperation to include defence industry & technology as well as “coordinated patrolling”, aimed at sanitising the busy but narrow and vulnerable Malacca Straits. In early 2011, India and Thailand agreed to strengthen defence cooperation by having senior official-level dialogue between their Defence Ministries. In c. 2015, during Indian Naval Chief Adm. R.K.Dhowan’s visit to Thailand, the two navies agreed to forge and enhance naval cooperation including sharing of data and information on shipping. They also decided to further strengthen relationship in accordance with India's "Act East Policy".
India - Japan
Since c. 2010, the Japanese Navy (Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force, or JMSDF) has also become part of the Malabar exercise. In c. 2007, a five-nation exercise (including Australia and Singapore) was conducted, which China objected to. The Malabar Series of exercises are no longer carried out just off the Malabar coast. The 2011 exercises were off Okinawa in Japan, but Japan itself pulled out because its Maritime forces were deeply involved in relief efforts following the earthquake and tsunami that devasted that country in March, 2011. During defence minister A.K.Antony’s visit to Japan in November, 2011, the two navies decided to expand their joint drills to unprecedented levels. In late 2011, during the Japanese PM Noda Yoshihiko’s visit to India, it was announced that the two navies would establish interoperability between them. India is the only other country, apart from the US, with which Japan would have such an interoperability. In June, 2012, the Indian and Japanese navies conducted their first bi-lateral joint exercise code named JIMEX-12 off the Japanese coast.
India - Mongolia
Since c. 2004, India and Mongolia have also been conducting joint military drills annually in counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency and peacekeeping operations, code-named ‘Nomadic Elephant’. India has also been participating in ‘Khan Quest’, the annual Mongolian-hosted joint-training exercise aimed at enhancing cooperation among regional militaries from democratic countries including South Korea, Japan, Thailand and the US. During the Indian President Pratibha Patil’s visit to Mongolia in August 2011, the two countries signed a defence cooperation agreement.
India - Indonesia
The armies of India and Indonesia (Indonesian National Army (Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Darat, TNI-AD) also conduct counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism drills called Chakravyuh. During the visit to India by the Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in January 2011, the two governments agreed to establish a defence dialogue mechanism and the first meeting between the defence ministers of the two countries took place in October 2012. The two sides signed the Agreement on Defence Cooperation in 2001 after which the two navies have been conducting coordinated patrols along the international maritime boundary line, known as Ind-Indo Corpat or India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol. This is held twice a year in April and October where two ships from each navy do joint patrol of the seas against piracy, armed robbery, poaching, illegal immigration and drug and human trafficking. From April 2014, this was converted into a joint exercise with more vessels participating from either side to “develop interoperability and strengthen navy-to-navy ties”.
India - IBSA
As part of the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) grouping, three large and developing democracies from three different continents, the navies of these three countries have been holding annual joint exercises, IBSAMAR, since May 2008.
India - Myanmar
In March 2013, Indian and Myanmarese Navies conducted a joint exercise for the first time and in July 2013, India announced a plan to build Off-shore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) for Myanmar. India simultaneously announced plans to further increase intake of Myanmarese army, naval and airforce personnel for training in Indian military institutions. Myanmarese pilots will be trained to fly the Russian-origin Mi-35 attack helicopters, as part the overall "capacity building and enhancement" plan.
India - Saudi Arabia
In April 2011, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and India decided to enhance their military-to-miltary contacts and planned a series of exercises between their armies and navies. During the visit of the then Crown Prince and later Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman to New Delhi, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation. The MOU was subsequently ratified by both sides in March 2015. In February 2012, the Indian Defence Minister A.K.Antony visited Saudi Arabia with a high powered military team to strengthen defence ties and broaden engagement with that country. During the visit, both countries agreed to set up a joint committee to work out a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation, another MoU on cooperation in the field of hydrography, joint military exercises and high level visits, etc. Importantly, the committee would also explore the possibility of cooperation between the defence industries of the two countries. History was made in early August 2015, when the IAF contingent returning from the UK after Ex. Indradanush landed at the Taif airbase. It was the first visit of fighter planes of the IAF to any Saudi airbase.
India - Oman
Since c. 1993, Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman have been conducting joint naval exercises codenamed, ‘Naseem Al Bahr’, establishing a’a good measure of interoperability’. The scope and content of the exercise has also increased progressively. A large number of Royal Oman Navy personnel undergo training at Indian Navy’s premier training institute at Lonavala. Indian and Omani air forces have been conducting ‘Eastern Bridge’ series of exercises since c. 2009.
India - China
Even China and India, in spite of their lingering border dispute and mistrust, have conducted by c. 2010 two Hand-in-Hand (HiH) army exercises as part of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs). The first exercise was in Kunming in c. 2007 and the next at Belgaum in c. 2009. There was an interruption in the military-to-military contacts after the issue of denial of visa to the Indian Northern Command’s Chief by the Chinese in c. 2010 but by May, 2011, the two sides began to resume the contacts.
India - Sri Lanka
India and Sri Lanka who have a deep defence understanding, instituted the ‘SLINEX 11’, an exercise interrupted for six years due to internal strife in Sri Lanka. For many years, India has trained thousands of Sri Lankan personnel at its military institutions ranging from Counter-insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) at Vairengte (Mizoram) to School of Artillery at Devlali (Maharashtra), apart from providing specialized naval courses in gunnery, navigation, communication and anti-submarine warfare. In October 2014, the two nations also instituted Mitra Shakti, an initiative designed largely by the Army after the successful outcome of the ‘Annual Defence Dialogue’ that was co-chaired in Colombo. A contingent of 42 Indian Army special forces troops landed in Lanka in November 2014 to launch the military training exercise ‘Mitra Shakti’ at Uva-Kudaoyo Commando Regiment training school. In the three-week session, the Army shared military warfare expertise with its Lankan counterparts.
India - Maldives
With the Maldives National Defence Forces (MNDF), India has been conducting an annual joint military exercise codenamed EKUVERIN, since 2009. In c. 2012, there was also a joint Naval/Coast Guard exercise off Male involving India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, codenamed DOSTI XI. The Dosti exercise was institutionalized between the Coast guards of India and Maldives in c. 1991. Sri Lankan Navy joined it in c. 2012. The Dosti series of exercises have become a regular feature among the three nations. This trilateral grouping of navies attends to piracy and other illegal activities. This trilateral grouping was extended in March 2014 by including Seychelles and Mauritius.
India - Nepal
India has been conducting battalion-level exercises with the Nepalese Army since c. 2011. The exercise is named Surya Kiran.
India - Bangladesh
For the first time, India and Bangladesh conducted a joint military exercise, codenamed ‘Op Exercise Unity’ (Op Sampriti), lasting 14 days in Jorhat, Assam in the first half of November, 2010. This followed the steadily and rapidly improving relationship between the two nations.