Indian and Russian Armies began a joint exercise INDRA 2013 in the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Thar desert of Rajasthan today. It is aimed at improving bilateral defence cooperation between the two armies and enhancing their ability to operate as integrated forces in a well-coordinated manner within the framework of UN peacekeeping operations. This is the seventh India-Russia joint army exercise which will continue till 28th October.

This exercise will be conducted in semi-desert terrain conditions, with troops of the Russian Army operating along with Indian troops of the South Western Command in an exercise to support peacekeeping operations. The participants will engage in a number of defined operational missions, that will include security of lines of communication, intelligence based peace enforcement operations and rescue operations.