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Indra-2013 Russian-Indian military exercises begin at India’s Suratgarh aviation base

The source says, the purpose of the exercise is «to practice joint actions to identify, block, follow and destruct illegal armed groups in semi-desert areas"

NEW DELHI, October 19 (Itar-Tass) - The first stage of the seventh joint exercises of Russian and Indian armies - Indra 2013 - began on Saturday in the north-western Indian state of Rajasthan.

On Friday, two Ilyushin-76 military transport aircrafts brought to India servicemen of the 11th Airborne Assault formation deployed in Buryatia as a part of the Eastern Military District, a source close to the Russian military- industrial complex told Itar-Tass.

«At the first stage, the military will carry out equipment reception,” the source said. “The exercises involve about 500 people - 250 on each side - and more than 30 pieces of equipment - T-72 tanks and infantry fighting vehicles BMP- 2 and BMP -2K /of commander modifications/."

The source says, the purpose of the exercise is «to practice joint actions to identify, block, follow and destruct illegal armed groups in semi-desert areas."

"The exercises are sort of divided into several stages,” the source added. “After receiving the equipment, the military will organise a joint staff and will begin planning the operation, train tactical groups in combat tasks. At the last stage, they will organise a joint group of forces, practice search and intelligence activities, blocking a specified area, harassment and destruction of an illegal armed formation."

The Indra - 2013 exercises will feature firing and competitions between crews. The manoeuvres will continue to October 28. The opening ceremony is scheduled for October 20.

The Indra Russian -Indian exercises have been held in Russia and India in turn since 2003. In addition to the land forces, they are also held for the navy.