Joint Exercise Of Indian, U.S. Special Forces Begins In Meghalaya

Relevance: GS2 - India and its neighborhood- relations. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. Prelims - Current Events of National and International Importance

(Source: The Hindu, Indian Express)

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Why in the news?

• Recently, the 14th edition of the Vajra Prahar exercise between the Special Forces of India and the U.S.A. commenced in Meghalaya.
• Vajra Prahar has been conducted alternatively in India and the U.S.A. every year since 2010 with the aim of sharing best practices and experiences between the forces of both countries.

What is Exercise Vajra Prahar?

• Vajra Prahar is a joint exercise conducted annually between the Special Forces of India and the U.S.A.
• It is hosted alternatively by the two countries.
• Aim: Sharing of best practices and experiences in areas such as joint mission planning and operational tactics.
  • Allow special forces of both countries to train for Airborne operations, Special Operations, and Counter Terrorism operations jointly under the UN Charter.

2023 edition

• Duration: It is a three-week exercise
• Location: It has been organized at Umroi Cantonment, Meghalaya.
• Participants:
  • USA: 1st Special Forces Group
  • India: Special Forces personnel from the Eastern Command.
• The 2023 Exercise will include activities in Special Operations, Counter Terrorist Operations, and Air Borne operations in simulated conventional and unconventional scenarios in mountainous terrain.
  • Combat free fall insertion of troops from stand-off distances
  • Water borne insertion of troops
  • Precision engagement of targets at long ranges
  • Combat air controlling of fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft
  • Airborne insertion and sustenance of troops

Significance of the Exercise

• It has helped strengthen the bilateral relationship between the special forces and improve bilateral defense cooperation between India and the USA.
• Increasing geopolitical tensions such as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and Chinese aggression along India’s land border and in the maritime theater of the IOR have added to the significance of the exercise and the India-U.S. security partnership.
• The exercise is conducted in the mountainous terrain of the Himalayas which will help Indian forces gain experience in tackling security challenges in the region such as militancy, insurgency, and the Chinese threat.
• It will help build synergies in the use of equipment and provide the Indian armed forces with a working understanding of U.S. equipment which is significant in light of the procurement of US-India Defence Industrial Cooperation and Indian procurement of US defense technology.

Other exercises between India and the U.S.A

FAQs

MCQs

Question: Which of the following exercises are not correctly matched with participant countries?

(a) Yudh Abhyas - U.K

(b) Surya Kiran - Nepal

(c) Varuna - France

(d) Vajra Prahar - U.S.A