The seventh Indo-US Army Exercise is going on in Thar desert area of South Western Command since last nine days. The event is all the more interesting as a number of key surveillance, communications and lED detection and neutralization technologies, available with both sides, are being fielded in the exercise. Today, both the sides executed a joint cordon and search drill to neutralise suspected insurgents, in a specially constructed training area at the ranges in an abandoned village. The drill, code-named DESERT LARK, saw the Indian and US troops establish a cordon using their combat vehicles at night and then conduct dismounted searches. Senior officials of Indian and US Armed forces were also present during the exercise. The purpose of this exercise is to create better coordination during UN Peace keeping missions.