In October 2019, the Indian army will conduct a large war exercise near china border named ‘HimVijay’

The Indian Army and  Indian Air Force (IAF) will jointly engage to conduct a large war exercise code-named  ‘HimVijay’ in October 2019 along the china border near Arunachal Pradesh. This would be the 1^st and biggest ever war game done by the strike corps in the eastern region. For the first time, 17 Mountain Corps will be involved, over 2500 soldiers will participate in it.Key points:
i. The Indian Army will deploy state-of-the-art American weapons. These include the M777 ultralight howitzers, including Chinook heavy-lift helicopters. Chinook heavy-lift helicopters were inducted into the Indian Air Force at Chandigarh Airbase on 25 March 2019.
ii. The purpose of the exercise is to test the capabilities of war in the northeast. It will also include the recently formed 17 Mountain Strike Corps. The Air Force will do everything to meet the Army’s needs during the war. M777 ultra-light howitzers will be provided to 17 Mountain Strike Corps during the exercise.
iii. Tezpur -based 4 Corps will be deployed at high altitude in the exercise. They will be charged with the security of their area. Meanwhile, a brigade-size force of 17 Mountain Strike Corps (comprising more than 2500 soldiers) will be airlifted there by the Air Force to challenge them.
iv. The Air Force will use C-17, C-130J Super Hercules and AN-32 to airlift the troops. The Air Force will airlift these soldiers from Baghdogra in West Bengal to the war zone located near Arunachal.
v. The army started forming IBGs (Integrated Battle Groups ) to make its organization more effective. Once it is formed, the formations will be converted into leaner and more efficient fighting with the capability to strike deeper and quicker against enemy targets.
vi. The IBG will be smaller than a division and as per the need of modern times will integrate the existing elements of infantry, tank regiments, artillery, engineers and signals. 6 IBGs will be deployed and will be directly under a Corps.
vii. Background: After a local delegation-level meeting at the Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) point in Chusul in the Leh district of Jammu and Kashmir, the issue between Soldiers of India and China near Pangong Tso lake in eastern Ladakh ended. China holds a large part of Pangong Tso, which has seen scuffle in the past both the countries over land and on the water as both sides patrol on speed boats. China also objected the conversion of Ladakh into a Union Territory(UT) and supported Pakistan’s diplomatic moves at the United Nations(UN).

About Indian Army:
♦ Motto: “Service Before Self”
♦ Founded: 1 April 1895
♦ Headquarters: New Delhi
♦ Chief of the Army Staff (COAS): General Bipin Rawat

About IAF:
♦ Founded: 8 October 1932
♦ Headquarters: New Delhi
♦ Chief of the Air Staff (CAS): Birender Singh Dhanoa,