VAYU SAMANVAY-II: Indian Army Tests Drone and Counter-Drone Capabilities in Desert Sector

The Indian Army successfully completed a large-scale drone and counter-drone exercise called VAYU SAMANVAY-II. The exercise was held from October 28 to 29 in the desert sector under the command of the Southern Command (headquartered in Pune).

The main goal was to test the Army’s readiness for next-generation warfare. This involved combining different air and ground assets, along with complex multi-domain command centers, in a realistic environment that included electronic warfare (EW) challenges.

VAYU SAMANVAY-II: Indian Army Tests Drone and Counter-Drone Capabilities in Desert Sector

Key Objectives and Outcomes

• Aerial Threats: The two-day exercise focused on developing and testing methods (doctrinal precepts) for drone and counter-drone operations to strengthen the Army’s ability to respond to modern aerial threats. The desert location offered an ideal testing ground.
• Joint Interoperability: Vayu Samanvay-II showed strong cooperation (joint interoperability) between various parts of the Indian Army, confirming its ability to conduct technology-enabled operations in sensitive border areas.
• Indigenous Technology: Troops also used the opportunity to experiment with indigenous (homegrown) technologies under real operational conditions.
• Future Readiness: The lessons learned from this exercise will directly help the Army develop its capabilities and quickly induct new drone and counter-drone systems, proving its commitment to building a technology-driven, agile, and future-ready force.

Simultaneous Joint Exercise ‘Trishul’

The Southern Command is also currently conducting a separate joint exercise named ‘Trishul’ with the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.

• Focus of ‘Trishul’: This simultaneous exercise involves offensive maneuvers in the creek and desert areas, as well as amphibious operations (land-sea operations) off the Saurashtra coast.
• Capabilities Tested: ‘Trishul’ covers comprehensive joint multi-domain operations, including Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), Electronic Warfare (EW), and Cyber capabilities.

Question & Answer

Q1. The large-scale drone and counter-drone exercise conducted by the Indian Army was named:
(a) Operation Desert Strike
(b) VAYU SAMANVAY-II
(c) Exercise Trishul
(d) Joint Air-Ground Command
Answer: VAYU SAMANVAY-II

Explanation: The Indian Army successfully conducted the large-scale drone and counter-drone exercise named VAYU SAMANVAY-II.

Q2. The exercise Vayu Samanvay-II was conducted under the aegis of which Indian Army Command?
(a) Western Command
(b) Eastern Command
(c) Southern Command
(d) Central Command
Answer: Southern Command

Explanation: The exercise was conducted under the aegis (guidance/authority) of the Pune-headquartered Southern Command.

Q3. What specialized operational environment was emphasized during Vayu Samanvay-II to test readiness?
(a) Mountainous terrain warfare
(b) Electronic Warfare and contested operational environment
(c) Urban counter-insurgency
(d) Chemical and biological defense
Answer: Electronic Warfare and contested operational environment

Explanation: The exercise was designed to test preparedness by integrating assets in a realistic, electronic warfare, and contested operational environment.

Q4. The Southern Command is simultaneously conducting a joint exercise ‘Trishul’ with which two other Indian Armed Forces branches?
(a) Coast Guard and Border Security Force (BSF)
(b) Navy and Air Force
(c) Coast Guard and Air Force
(d) Navy and BSF
Answer: Navy and Air Forc

Explanation: Southern Command is also conducting a Joint Exercise ‘Trishul’ with the Navy and Air Force.

Q5. The ongoing Joint Exercise ‘Trishul’ includes ‘amphibious operations’ off the coast of which region?
(a) Malabar
(b) Konkan
(c) Coromandel
(d) Saurashtra
Answer: Saurashtra

Explanation: Exercise Trishul includes amphibious operations off the Saurashtra coast.

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