Guwahati – In a massive display of joint military prowess, the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force carried out a high-intensity, multi-domain warfare exercise—”Prachand Prahaar”—in the rugged Himalayan terrain along the country’s northern frontiers. The three-day drill (March 25-27) showcased seamless integration of surveillance, precision strikes, and electronic warfare capabilities, reinforcing India’s readiness to counter emerging threats in contested environments.
Integrated surveillance and swift strikes:
The exercise commenced with the deployment of advanced surveillance assets, including:
– Indian Air Force (IAF): Long-range reconnaissance aircraft like the Boeing P-8I and UAVs for real-time battlefield monitoring.
– Indian Navy: Maritime patrol aircraft, enhancing cross-domain awareness in high-altitude zones.
– Indian Army: Elite Special Forces, swarm drones, and loitering munitions for tactical reconnaissance.
-Space-based assets: Satellite intelligence to track simulated enemy movements.
Once targets were identified, the forces unleashed a synchronized assault using:
-Aerial dominance: Fighter jets (likely Rafales & Sukhoi-30 MKIs) conducting precision strikes.
– Long-range firepower: Pinaka rocket systems and medium artillery delivering heavy blows.
-Drone warfare: Kamikaze drones and armed helicopters engaging high-value targets.
-Electronic warfare: Jamming systems disrupting enemy communications.
Senior commanders oversee drills
Top military brass reviewed the exercise, including:
-Lt Gen Ram Chander Tiwari, GOC-in-C, Eastern Command (Army)
-Air Marshal Surat Singh, AOC-in-C, Eastern Air Command (IAF)
-Commodore Ajay Yadav, NOIC West Bengal (Navy)
They lauded the forces for their operational synergy and precision in executing complex, multi-service maneuvers.
Continuation of ‘Poorvi Prahar’ – focus on jointness:
“Prachand Prahaar’ builds upon ‘Exercise Poorvi Prahar (November 2024)’, which tested integrated aviation operations. This edition expanded into full-spectrum warfare, validating:
-Unified command structures across Army, Navy, and IAF.
– Rapid deployment of firepower in high-altitude, electronically contested zones.
-Technological edge with drones, cyber tools, and space-based surveillance.
Strategic message: deterrence and readiness
The exercise underscores India’s growing emphasis on theater-level jointness, particularly amid ongoing tensions along the northern borders. By integrating land, air, sea, and space assets, the armed forces demonstrated their ability to:
-Detect and neutralize threats** swiftly.
-Operate in denied/cyber-disrupted environments.
-Project power across disputed mountainous terrain.
Exercise Prachand Prahaar reaffirms India’s commitment to multi-domain dominance, ensuring robust deterrence against potential adversaries. With China’s PLA frequently conducting drills across the LAC, such exercises highlight India’s evolving war-fighting doctrines—blending technology, jointness, and rapid response capabilities, a statement released by defence PRO in Guwahati stated.
