India-Australia joint military exercise AUSTRAHIND-2023 to focus on tactical operations
| 2023-11-22
The Indian Armed Forces contingent for Exercise AUSTRAHIND-2023 being held in Perth, Australia from November 22, 2023.
The exercise aims to foster collaborative partnership and share best practices between the two sides
In a reflection of the growing defence and security collaboration between India and Australia, an Indian Armed Forces contingent of 81 personnel departed for Australia on Wednesday (November 22, 2023) to take part in the second edition of Joint Military Exercise AUSTRAHIND-23. The exercise will be conducted at Perth, Australia from November 22 to December 6, 2023, the Ministry of Defence said as it released information about the joint military drill.
The Indian Army contingent comprises 60 personnel from a Battalion of the Gorkha Rifles. The Australian Army contingent comprising 60 personnel will be from the 13th Brigade. According to the Ministry of Defence, one officer from the Indian Navy and 20 personnel from the Indian Air Force will also participate from the Indian side. The Australian contingent will include 20 personnel each from the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force.
Exercise AUSTRAHIND was instituted in 2022 and the first edition was conducted in Mahajan, Rajasthan. It is planned to be an annual training event to be conducted alternatively in India and Australia.
The aim of the exercise is to foster collaborative partnership and share best practices between the two sides. The exercise will also promote inter- operability while undertaking multi-domain operations in Urban and Semi- Urban terrain under Chapter VII of United Nations on peace keeping operations, the Ministry of Defence said.
The joint exercise will promote exchange of ideas and jointly rehearse tactics, technique and procedures for conducting tactical operations.
The training curriculum also includes sniper firing, and jointly operating surveillance and communication equipment to achieve a high degree of situational awareness. Casualty management and evacuation will also be rehearsed besides tactical actions at Company/ Battalion level.
“The exercise will also help in promoting understanding between the two militaries and further strengthen the defence cooperation between the two friendly nations,” the Ministry of Defence said.
CLOSE COLLABORATION IN DEFENCE & SECURITY
Greater collaboration in defence and security, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, figured prominently at the second India-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue held in New Delhi on November 21, 2023. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar represented India; Australia was represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
The issue was also discussed in a meeting between Defence Minister Singh and Deputy Prime Minister Marles where both the ministers reaffirmed their commitment towards further strengthening the bilateral defence relations.
Addressing a joint media conference along with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after the 1st India-Australia Summit and delegation-level talks in New Delhi on March 10, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described defence and security cooperation as an important pillar of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Closer cooperation in defence and security was also on the agenda when Prime Minister Modi met his Australian counterpart in Sydney on May 24, 2023.
The Indian Army contingent comprises 60 personnel from a Battalion of the Gorkha Rifles. The Australian Army contingent comprising 60 personnel will be from the 13th Brigade. According to the Ministry of Defence, one officer from the Indian Navy and 20 personnel from the Indian Air Force will also participate from the Indian side. The Australian contingent will include 20 personnel each from the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force.
Exercise AUSTRAHIND was instituted in 2022 and the first edition was conducted in Mahajan, Rajasthan. It is planned to be an annual training event to be conducted alternatively in India and Australia.
The aim of the exercise is to foster collaborative partnership and share best practices between the two sides. The exercise will also promote inter- operability while undertaking multi-domain operations in Urban and Semi- Urban terrain under Chapter VII of United Nations on peace keeping operations, the Ministry of Defence said.
The joint exercise will promote exchange of ideas and jointly rehearse tactics, technique and procedures for conducting tactical operations.
The training curriculum also includes sniper firing, and jointly operating surveillance and communication equipment to achieve a high degree of situational awareness. Casualty management and evacuation will also be rehearsed besides tactical actions at Company/ Battalion level.
“The exercise will also help in promoting understanding between the two militaries and further strengthen the defence cooperation between the two friendly nations,” the Ministry of Defence said.
CLOSE COLLABORATION IN DEFENCE & SECURITY
Greater collaboration in defence and security, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, figured prominently at the second India-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue held in New Delhi on November 21, 2023. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar represented India; Australia was represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
The issue was also discussed in a meeting between Defence Minister Singh and Deputy Prime Minister Marles where both the ministers reaffirmed their commitment towards further strengthening the bilateral defence relations.
Addressing a joint media conference along with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after the 1st India-Australia Summit and delegation-level talks in New Delhi on March 10, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described defence and security cooperation as an important pillar of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Closer cooperation in defence and security was also on the agenda when Prime Minister Modi met his Australian counterpart in Sydney on May 24, 2023.
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