In a historic feat, IAF carries out airdrops of warfighting loads at border

New Delhi: In a major step towards theatreisation, for the first time Indian Army joined hands with the Indian Air Force's Dhruva Command in a mission to airdrop warfighting loads to forces deployed at the border. 

The Indian Army in a tweet said, "Moving a Step Closer to Theatreisation, Air Maintenance team of #DhruvCommand successfully carried out maiden #Airdropes of war fighting loads by AN 32 aircraft of Indian Air Force #IAF in support of Mechanised Forces on Western Borders." 

The AN-32 is a transport aircraft used by IAF for troop transport, cargo delivery, and airdrops. IAF regularly conducts airdrop operations and exercises to enhance its operational capabilities. 

The significance of this milestone cannot be overstated, for it exemplifies the tireless endeavours of the Indian Army and other armed forces in achieving a seamless integration of their operational capabilities. The notion of theaterisation, which has been the clarion call for strategic reforms, seeks to create a cohesive and agile force that is capable of delivering swift and decisive blows on multiple fronts.

The successful completion of the operation signals the seamless integration of the operational capabilities of the two services of the Indian military and is a new milestone in the country's most ambitious defence project — creation of integrated theatre commands. 

Integrated theatre commands are war-fighting entities, containing army, navy and air force components, that would fight jointly to focus and synergise the combat power of all three services. 

The Indian military currently functions under 17 single-service commands. It has eight commands to manage the China front as against a single theatre command of the Chinese military responsible for borders with India.

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