All you need to know about ‘Exercise Devil Strike,’ a large-scale air exercise in north Bengal

New Delhi: The Indian army held an “Exercise Devil Strike,” a large-scale air exercise in north Bengal last week.

According to army sources, the exercise, held between January 22 and 27, was planned to practise the entire spectrum of operations carried out by an airborne force. They included aerial induction of troops, destruction of high-value targets, successful link-ups with advancing ground forces and exfiltration operations.

During the six-day-long exercise, more than 1,000 paratroopers from the Eastern Command and Garud commandos of the Indian Air Force (IAF) took part. They were supported by aircraft such as Rafale, C-130 Hercules, AN-32 and advanced light helicopters of both the IAF and the army.

“The exercise showcased integrated employment of latest weapons & equipment in a networked battlefield under intense Electronic Warfare environment & Indian Armed Forces’ capability to employ an airborne force swiftly in a dynamic situation,” said a post on the official X handle of the Eastern Command.

During the exercise, troops carried out drills to destroy and neutralise targets by direct action. Fighter aircraft and attack helicopters destroyed targets designated through laser target designators by the paratroopers on the ground. “The post-strike damage assessment was carried out by Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPAs) and re-engagement done wherever necessary,” said a source.

On successful completion of the mission, the paratroopers linked up with the ground forces for exfiltration drills. Underwater diving teams conducted a diversionary attack drill near the Teesta Barrage.

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