India, Russia to hold Indra-2016 joint military exercises in Primorsky

Stepping up joint military cooperation, India and Russia have agreed to hold the Indra-2016 joint military exercises in Primorsky from July to December this year. The exercise will involve about 500 servicemen on both sides. “The two countries agreed on the subjects of the exercise’s practical part,” chief press officer of the Eastern Military District Alexander Gordeyev said. In April, the two countries had signed a protocol on the drills in the Russian southeastern city of Vladivostok. The two countries held joint exercises on counter-terrorism in November 2015. Joint naval drills, Indra Navy, took place in the Bay of Bengal in December 2015. The main aim of the exercises was to practice the protection of surface ships. Mechanised infantry units of the combined-arms army of the Eastern Military District stationed in Primorsky and India’s Kumaon infantry regiments will practice the formation of a joint grouping of troops. This comes under a UN mandate and will simulate the planning and practical conduct of an anti-terrorist operation.