In an electric display of fire power at the Mahajan firing range near Suratgarh, Rajasthan, the Indian Army, coupled with air strikes from the Indian Air Force, proved its capability in securing the nation against the adversary. Exercise Divya Astra was a perfectly synchronised war-like scenario that pulverised the targets in low-conflict high-intensity warfare. The teamwork of T-90s, BMP-Il, multi barrel rocket launchers, the Infantry soldiers and the Mig-21 Bis, Mig-23 BN and Mi-35 attack helicopter was absolutely stunning.

Precision was the hallmark of this exercise. The use of long range recce and observation system or LORROS pin-pointed the targets. Fire from the deadly Krasnopol laser guided munition was more than convincing in their power to neutralise the enemy positions. The infantry charged with deadly Dragunov snipers, Carl Gustav rocket launchers and under-barrel grenade launchers surprising the enemy from unassuming hideouts. The final bashing of fire power came from the GRAD (which means hailstorm in Russian) multi barrel rocket launcher, firing 40 rockets at one go.

As warfare in the topography of the Punjab and Kashmir valley requires crossing of rivers and canals, a near real-time building of pontoon bridge was carried out at the lndira Gandhi Canal near Birdwal. Deft sappers constructed the pontoon in the 65 meters-wide canal in swift manoeuvres. As another unbelievable demo, the huge metal monsters, BMP-II crossed over the 6.5metres-deep canal and roared over to the enemy territory with amphibian pride.

-Sudipta Biswas

from Suratgarh