Article Posted on : - Oct 14, 2010

Russian soldier from 34th motorized infantry mountain brigade

NEW DELHI (BNS): India and Russia will conduct joint antiterrorism exercises ‘INDRA 2010’ in Chaubattia in Uttarakhand from Friday to October 24.

The battalion-level exercise will comprise of infantry troops from both the armies who would work out insurgency and terrorism situations and plan and execute an operation to counter these, particularly in a mountainous terrain, according to Defence Ministry officials.

The Indian side will be represented by an infantry battalion while Russia will send more than 200 troops from its 34th mountain brigade, based in the North Caucasus.

The Russian troops will be equipped with lightweight Permyachka Infantry Suits, which protect at least 80 percent of the body surface from small-caliber bullets and low-speed shrapnel, a Ria Novosti report said.

The Indian and Russian military have been conducting joint INDRA exercises since 2003. The exercise is intended to enhance the defence cooperation and military-to-military relations between the two armies.