“Ex Sarvatra Prahar” was conducted by the School of Artillery at Devlali on 08 & 11 January 2016, where a plethora of equipment showcasing the Regiment of Artillery was employed and its firepower displayed. The exercise was conducted through a tactical situation requiring an appreciation of the operation and preparation of an Artillery fire plan in support of the operation.

          During the exercise the entire range of guns, from the indigenous 120 mm Mortars,  155 mm Soltam, 105 mm Indian Field Gun, 105 mm Light Field Gun, 130 mm Medium Gun to the sophisticated 155 mm FH 77B Bofors and 122 mm Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher GRAD BM 21, demonstrated their destructive power. The ‘Gunners’ demonstrated accuracy, consistency and the overwhelming power of the Artillery by simultaneous engagement of targets with a number of guns.

          An array of new generation rocket and missile systems like Pinaka, Smerch and a model of Brahmos missile were also displayed. Surveillance and Target Acquisition equipment like the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Surveillance Sensors and Weapon Locating Radars were also showcased during the exercise. These Surveillance and Target Acquisition devices, when used in conjunction with the guns, are capable of enhancing the effect of fire power, thereby acting as Force multipliers.

          A special draw was the Combat Free Fall by Special Forces team and Cheetah and Chetak helicopters flown by Army Aviators, which airlifted a 120 mm mortar as part of the exercise for delivering firepower resources to inaccessible areas.

          The event was witnessed by officers of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Cadets from National Defence Academy (NDA), Young Officers from College of Military Engineering (CME) and Military Institute of Technology, Pune. Lieutenant General J George, Commandant, School of Artillery, interacted with various participants and delegations who attended the event. Apart from this, a large number of school children and NCC cadets also attended the display, which gave them a glimpse of the might of the Indian Army’s arm of Artillery and motivated the young minds.

Col Rohan Anand, SM

PRO (Army)