Indian, US armies to further enhance joint combat exercises

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Indian, US armies to further enhance joint combat exercises​

TNN, Mar 23, 2010, 02.50am IST

NEW DELHI: Even as India and US are gearing up to hold another joint combat exercise called `Shatrujeet' in California next month, the two armies on Monday kicked off a four-day Executive Steering Group (ESG) meeting to chalk out the schedule for bilateral military engagements over the next year.

"The aim is to increase the scope and complexity of joint combat exercises and training drills between the Indian and American armies, which have already built quite a bit of interoperability,'' said a defence ministry official.

The Indian side at the 14th ESG, being held at the Western Army Command at Chandimandir this time, is headed by director-general of military operations Lt-Gen A S Sekhon. The 30-member US Army delegation is led by Lt-Gen Benjamin Mixon, commander of the land forces at the US Pacific Command.

As for Shatrujit, around 150-200 Indian soldiers are leaving for US to take part in the war games, which will revolve around counter-terrorism, from April 1 to 19.

Incidentally, India had hosted the largest-ever ground combat exercise with US, called `Yudh Abhyas', at Babina last October. US showcased its Stryker infantry armoured vehicles and Javelin anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) during the combat manoeuvres.

The most visible symbol of the expansive Indo-US military ties has been the flurry of joint combat exercises -- over 50 in the last seven years -- between the two nations.

Indian, US armies to further enhance joint combat exercises - India - The Times of India