Indian Army conducts high altitude airborne exercise in eastern Ladakh!

New Delhi: The Indian Army's Shatrujeet brigade on Wednesday concluded its three-day-long airborne insertion exercise along the northern borders in eastern Ladakh conducted to validate its rapid response capabilities, sources said.

On November 1, the airborne troops were inserted into a drop zone at an altitude of more than 14,000 feet.
 
The pre-acclimatised troops along with specialist vehicles and missile detachments were transported via C-130 and AN 32 aircraft from five different mounting bases to validate inter-theatre movement, precision stand-off drops, rapid grouping and capture of designated objects with speed and surprise. The drop was particularly challenging due to the low temperatures of upto minus 20 degrees and the rarefied atmosphere in super high altitude terrain.

PM Modi to spend Diwali with Army personnel at border outposts in J&K's Rajouri

The exercise also involves conducting Oxygen Combat Free Fall jumps and integrated battle drills by airborne forces, mechanised columns and attack helicopters, validating capabilities and seamless integration.
 
The Indian and Chinese militaries have been engaged in a border standoff in eastern Ladakh since May 2020, when a violent clash in the Pangong lake area led to both sides gradually rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.

After a series of military and diplomatic talks, India and China had completed the disengagement process in the Gogra area in August and in the north and south banks of the Pangong lake in February.

Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the sensitive sector.