Indian Army Conducts Joint High-Altitude Artillery Exercise in Arunachal Pradesh to Sharpen Combat Readiness

The Indian Army has successfully carried out a major joint artillery exercise in the high-altitude and rugged terrain of Arunachal Pradesh, aimed at bolstering operational preparedness and firepower coordination in extreme border conditions.

The drill, conducted by troops of a frontline artillery brigade under the Gajraj Corps (Eastern Command), involved live firing of multiple artillery systems, including:

– 155 mm Dhanush howitzers
– M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers
– Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launchers (MBRL)
– Upgraded 130 mm/155 mm towed guns

Key objectives of the exercise included:

– Validation of integrated fire-support plans in sub-zero temperatures and thin air
– Testing accuracy and lethality of artillery at extreme altitudes (>14,000 ft in some sectors)
– Practising rapid deployment, target acquisition, and engagement under simulated combat scenarios
– Enhancing coordination between artillery units, forward observers, drones, and aviation assets

The exercise took place in the Tawang–Bum La axis and other strategically sensitive sectors close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), where the terrain, weather, and altitude pose unique challenges to artillery operations. Soldiers demonstrated exceptional skill in manoeuvring heavy equipment, maintaining communication networks, and executing precise fire missions despite low oxygen levels and unpredictable mountain weather.

Army officials described the drill as a “significant step” toward ensuring deterrence and swift response capability along the northern borders. The exercise also validated new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for high-altitude artillery deployment, incorporating lessons from previous standoffs and ongoing modernisation efforts.

This joint exercise is part of a series of intensified training activities across the Eastern Command to maintain peak combat readiness amid the evolving security environment along the LAC.

Local communities in the vicinity expressed support for the armed forces, with several village leaders appreciating the Army’s continued focus on both national security and civic outreach programs in border villages.

Tags: Indian Army Artillery Exercise, Arunachal Pradesh Military Drill, High-Altitude Combat Readiness, Gajraj Corps Exercise, LAC Border Preparedness, Dhanush Howitzer Firing, Pinaka MBRL Arunachal, Tawang Bum La Sector, Eastern Command Training, Northeast Defence News

Hashtags: #IndianArmy #ArunachalExercise #ArtilleryDrill #HighAltitudeWarfare #LACBorder #GajrajCorps #DhanushHowitzer #PinakaMBRL #NortheastDefence #ArunachalPradesh #ArmyTraining #BorderSecurity