Exercise "Vijayee Bhava" begins today

[Oracle]

Exercise "Vijayee Bhava" begins today

 

[bhramos]

A six-day long joint exercise 'Vijayee Bhava', the inter-services exercise, of the Army and the Air Force will begin on today in the deserts of Bikaner and Suratgarh near Pakistan border. Scheduled between 9th to 14th May, personnel from both the services will practise for 15 days. Army officials say that the excercise will involve tank to tank wars, helicopter operations and others.

Army official has stated that it has conducted 10 major exercises near the Pakistan border in the last six years and exercise 'Vijayee Bhava' will boost synergy between the Indian defence forces.

"Battlefield tactics for warfare are being practised in the exercise which also aims at fine-tuning the concept of Cold Start doctrine," said the official.

In 2007, the Army and Air Force had conducted Exercise "Shatrunash" in Punjab for swift military operations. It was a sequel to exercise 'Sanghe Shakti' in 2006. Exercise 'Sanghe Shakti' was meant to eliminate Operation "Parakram" flaws.

 

[bhramos]

Pics of the exercise

Courtesy: LiveFist

 

[pmaitra]

Getting leaner and meaner? Army practises blitzkrieg to strike hard at enemy

Getting leaner and meaner? Army practises blitzkrieg to strike hard at enemy

TNN | May 10, 2011, 04.28am IST; Times of India

NEW DELHI: In keeping with the "transformation" underway in the 1.13-million strong Army to make it leaner and meaner, the force is conducting a major exercise to practice blitzkrieg-style operations to hit the enemy hard at short-notice.

The exercise " Vijayee Bhava" (Be Victorious), being held in the Thar desert, basically revolves around the armour-intensive 2 Corps, considered to be the most crucial of the Army's three principal "strike" formations tasked with virtually cutting Pakistan into two during a full-fledged war, as was first reported by TOI last month.

"The manoeuvres are being conducted in north Rajasthan (in the Suratgarh region) to test the operational and transformational effectiveness of the Ambala-based Kharga Corps (2 Corps) as also validate new concepts which have emerged during the transformational studies undertaken by the Army," said an officer on Monday.

The Army, as reported earlier, has undertaken as many as 13 transformational studies, which range from consolidating strike capabilities to flattening different HQs, with the overall aim being to make the force "an agile, lethal, versatile and networked force" ready for the operational challenges of the 21st Century.

The most significant endeavour is to bring the three "strike" corps -- 1 Corps (Mathura), 2 Corps (Ambala) and 21 Corps (Bhopal), which are under separate regional commands -- under one umbrella strategic command.

"Working towards a capability-based approach, the Army has embarked on several transformational initiatives spanning concepts, organizational structures and absorption of new age technology, particularly in PGMs (precision-guided munitions), advanced surveillance systems, space and network-centricity," he said.

"These are being fielded and trial-evaluated by nominated test-bed formations and units participating in the exercise," added the officer.

This comes even as Army and IAF have stepped up coordination in the western theatre to build "an integrated and organic" air-land war-fighting machinery. In tune with this, a large number of IAF aircraft, including MiG-29s, MiG-21 'Bisons', Jaguars and Mi-25 attack helicopters, are also taking part in the "Vijayee Bhava" exercise.

Source: Getting leaner and meaner? Army practises blitzkrieg to strike hard at enemy - The Times of India

 

[pmaitra]

I would request those in the military to shed more light on the details of a possible quick-strike against the enemy. It is understood that the tactic would be different with Pakistan and PRC.

• What are the few possible ways in which the military will proceed?
• Which arm will lead the first strike? Presumably IAF?
• Will the IN be required to move into position before the IAF and IA begins their operations?
• How relevant is the IN in case the conflict is with PRC?
• Any other aspects where more light can be shed.

 

[Singh]

Statement from the Indian MoD:

Exercise Vijayee Bhava, the first amongst a series of Western Command routine annual summer exercises is underway in the South Western Sector. The manoeuvres are being conducted in North Rajasthan to test the operational & transformational effectiveness of the Ambala-based Kharga Corps as also validate new concepts which have emerged during the transformation studies undertaken by the Army. The pivot corps manoeuvres are scheduled to take place later this month. The Command HQ synergises the operations of the Pivot and Strike Corps.


This Exercise envisages sustained massed mechanized manoeuvres, in a simulated environment, by composite combat entities, ably supported by air and complemented by a wide array of weapon systems and enabling combat logistics.

The Indian Army, which is working towards a 'capability based approach', has embarked on a series of transformational initiatives spanning concepts, organisational structures and absorption of new age technologies, particularly in the fields of precision munitions, advance surveillance systems , space and network-centricity. These will be fielded and trial evaluated by nominated test bed formations and units participating in the exercise. The thrust of the transformational initiative is for the Army to emerge as a modern, lean, agile and enabled force.

While the acquisition of hi-tech weaponry and combat support systems is an essential pre-requisite for a capability based approach, honing of human skills to harness technological advancements in military hardware is a never ending challenge. During the conduct of the exercise, combat decisions taken at each level of command will be analysed for their ability to synergise the application of state-of-the-art weapon platforms, to achieve optimum results. Such routine exercises with troops are conducted during the training cycles of formations.

 

[Singh]

I would request those in the military to shed more light on the details of a possible quick-strike against the enemy. It is understood that the tactic would be different with Pakistan and PRC.

• What are the few possible ways in which the military will proceed?
• Which arm will lead the first strike? Presumably IAF?
• Will the IN be required to move into position before the IAF and IA begins their operations?
• How relevant is the IN in case the conflict is with PRC?
• Any other aspects where more light can be shed.

I am not an expert but this my assessment.

1. These exercises clearly prove that Cold Start is still evolving. ( If I am not mistaken these maneuvers and all previous have lasted for 72 hours. )
2 Corps is a strike corps. As part of Cold Start IBGs/Pivot corps will take capture territory upto a shallow depth and defend it, while strike corps such as 2 Corps will seek to exploit the gains of IBGs without seeking to dismember Pakistan.
It is quite clear that on Rajashtan-SouthPunjab/Sindh Border Pivot corps will operate and on Punjab-Punjab border strike corps will seek to make rapid ingress into Pak Punjab .

2. There is talk of IBGs, where IAF, IA, Special Forces all work in tandem. IAF will have to establish Air superiority and provide CAS whilst Strike Corps are moving into Pak territory. So I presume IAF yes. (Do you treat Special forces, missile forces as a separate branch ?)

3. Indian Navy's role in the whole Cold Start has been ill defined. Although India is purchasing a lot of Naval Aviaton assets, and amphibious assets but there has not been a full unveiling of the naval component of the doctrine. It is acknowledged that Cold Start's success would depend on IAF quickly establishing Air Superiority, and Strike corp moving rapidly into Pakistan but if Naval aviation assets and amphibious assets are able to mount an attack on Southern Pakistan, Pakistan will be forced to fight on another front.

4. ?? IN's main role I would imagine would be to cut off Chinese sealanes ??

 

[LETHALFORCE]

India begins wargames along Pakistan border

India begins wargames along Pakistan border


India kicked off war games involving thousands of troops Monday along its border with arch-rival Pakistan, which is still smarting from the US operation that killed Osama bin Laden.
A military spokesman told reporters the six-day exercise, codenamed Vijayee Bhava (Be Victorious) was being held in the Thar desert region in the Indian state of Rajasthan.

"This exercise envisages sustained massed mechanised manoeuvres," S.D. Goswami said, adding the drill involved an array of weaponry that India has acquired as part of its ongoing military modernisation programme.

More than 20,000 combat troops were taking part.

The Indian army, the world's fourth largest in terms of personnel, has conducted 10 major military exercises along Pakistan's border in the past six years.

Pakistan is currently under pressure to explain how bin Laden -- killed in a US raid on a town near Islamabad a week ago -- had managed to live in the country undetected for years.

India has already given its verdict, denouncing its South Asian neighbour as a terrorist "sanctuary" and renewing calls for Islamabad to arrest suspects behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

India says the 10 gunmen who attacked multiple targets in Mumbai, killing 166 people, were members of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group.

India suspended peace talks with Pakistan after the attacks. The dialogue was recently resumed but India has continued to criticise Pakistan for not doing enough to bring the alleged organisers to justice.

The two nuclear-armed countries have fought three wars since gaining their independence in 1947.

 

[A.V.]

Waiting for the pakistani reaction by pakistani reactions and press statement i am sure they will tell india is making aggresive moves forgetting that such exercises are planned months in advance

 

[Patriot]

PHOTOS Day 2: Indian Exercise Vijayee Bhava

 

[prototype]

Well this is an indicator that cold start exist,very soon I think Pakistan will be making a counter move by planning some kind of showcase exercise and repeating the same rhetoric how it is protected by a sound military capable of dismembering the powerful among the powerful's.

 

[bhramos]

PHOTOS Day 2: Indian Exercise Vijayee Bhava

Courtesy: Livefist

sorry repost, but wanted to post big picture and HD..........

 

[Patriot]

DRDO, ISRO Miliary, ISR Platforms being tested during Indian Army, Air Force Joint Exercises

2011-05-11 Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) would be testing some of the new military platforms during the Indian Army's six day-long ongoing exercise -- Vijayee Bhava -- in northern Rajasthan.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) would also be testing its satellite capabilities to connect to a real-time war-like situation. "ISRO is keenly watching the efficacy and robustness of its satellite down-links for the field forces," an army spokesperson said here today.

Western Army Commander, Lieutenant General S R Ghosh today reviewed the six day-long exercise and briefed the operational commander.

Over 50,000 troops are taking part in the exercise, which is being conducted by Chandigarh-based Western Army Command. Army is putting into test some of the new concepts derived from its transformational studies carried by it in the last few years.

"The purpose of the exercise is to transform Army into a lean, agile and enabled force ready to tackle the developing security situation in today's scenario"

-- Western Army Commander, Lieutenant General S R Ghosh

The concept of dedicated Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) units would also be validated during the exercise to enhance operational situational awareness.

 

[Patriot]

PHOTOS #1: At Ex Vijayee Bhava

 

[Virendra]

I like this. Joint exercise with ISRO.
Makes it sound like Army is going all high-tech


Regards,
Virendra

 

[bhramos]

PHOTOS : At Ex Vijayee Bhava

Curtesy: Livefist

 

[SpArK]

PHOTOS DAY 3: At Ex Vijayee Bhava​

 

[SpArK]

Army Statement: Manoeuvring columns of Indian Army tanks and hovering helicopters in soaring temperatures in the desert terrain of northern Rajasthan near Suratgarh simulated an intense battlefield scenario in the joint Army-IAF exercise Vijayee Bhava as it entered its crucial culmination phase.

The month-long exercise of a simulated battlefield environment involving the Ambala-based Kharga Corps and the air elements of Western Air Command (WAC) was progressively built on from the smallest unit upwards to the entirety of the Corps.

Validating the joint nature of the operations, GOC-in-C, Western Command, Lt Gen SR Ghosh flew in an IAF Jaguar over the large exercise area covering nearly 2,400 sq km. The exercise is aimed at making the force more agile, versatile, lethal, networked and capable of giving victory in war, outlined the Army Commander.

The dynamic process of operations, both offensive and defensive, integrating and validation of concepts of modern warfare that have emerged during the transformation studies of Indian Army, network centricity, testing and evaluation of new equipments are some of the objectives achieved in the exercise.

The exercise aimed at rapid mobilization involved several mechanized operations towards offensive operations. Battlefield transparency and operational plans based on real-time situational awareness was enhanced using intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) inputs from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and satellites.

With air assets to play a decisive role in future battles, the increased air assets of the Army and Air Force were employed in an integrated manner in the exercise. Integration with the Air Force in all stages and employment of airborne and heliborne Special Forces has been a highlight of the Exercise Vijayee Bhava.

The IAF elements involved in the exercise included Mig-29, Mig-21 Bison, Jaguars, IL-76, AN-32, Mi-17 1V, Avro, Chetak and the attack helicopters – Mi-25/35. Offensive Air Defence was integral in the exercise that included interception in enemy territory. Nearly 100 fighter sorties, decimation of advancing armour, round-the-clock readiness for fighters and attack helicopters, mobilization of several ground and airborne air defence assets were undertaken by the IAF. 300 paratroopers and 50 despatchers were air dropped from one IL-76 and six AN-32 transport aircraft in stealthy night operations. The IAF pressed in Mi-17 1V Utility helicopters for special heliborne operations (SHBO), including dropping of Special Forces behind simulated enemy lines.

Exercise Vijayee Bhava draws to a close in mid-May.

 

[BangersAndMash]

 

[bhramos]

Ex Vijayee Bhava