By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russia and India will Tuesday hold an official opening of joint INDRA-2012 anti-terrorism military exercises in the Siberian republic of Buryatia, a spokesperson for Russia’s Eastern Military District said.
Both countries have conducted five INDRA-series joint ground and naval exercises since 2003. The last such exercise was held in India in October 2010.
“An official opening of the INDRA-2012 will be held on August 7 at the Burduny training range,” said Lt. Col. Igor Muginov.
Some 500 servicemen — about 250 on each side — will take part in the drills, which will be conducted using some 50 Russian combat vehicles.
Russia will be represented by a motorised infantry and a tank companies, a mortar and a MLRS battalions, and a grenade launcher platoon.
The participants of the exercises will carry out a number of firing, tactical and driving drills until Aug 12.
The active phase of the exercises will begin Aug 13 and include reconnaissance, pursuit and elimination of “terrorist groups.”