Delegates from foreign armies participating in exercise Pragati – I at the Foreign Training Node in Meghalaya. Pic: Eastern Command

PRAGATI symbolises a shared commitment to collective security, regional stability and collaborative growth

The Indian Army is set to host military delegations from 11 friendly foreign countries for the inaugural edition of a multilateral military exercise, christened PRAGATI at the Foreign Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya, from May 18–31.

PRAGATI, an acronym for Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region, reinforces defence cooperation, enhances interoperability and strengthens mutual trust, the Indian Army said on Tuesday. PRAGATI symbolises a shared commitment to collective security, regional stability and collaborative growth.

The Indian Army had extended an invitation for the exercise to 15 countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

Earlier, the Army’s Eastern Command had said that the Foreign Training Node hosted delegates from extended neighbourhood countries for the final planning conference of the maiden multinational Exercise PRAGATI – I.

Besides military drills and wargames, a key component of the event is a two-day industry exposition, highlighting the Army’s capabilities and fostering industrial partnerships with ASEAN nations. During exercises with foreign countries, military contingents are able to effectively highlight capabilities of Indigenously manufactured hardware and equipment and provide a realistic hand-on experience.

According to information shared by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), which is involved in showing Indian defence equipment at the exercise, unmanned aerial systems and countermeasures, autonomous surveillance and intelligence gathering systems and robotics, including unmanned ground vehicles, robotic mules for logistics and reconnaissance and remotely operated martitime systems, AI-based capability enhancement, precision ammunition, electronic and laser warfare and cyber defence are among the major domains to be showcased.

Human survivability and solutions like equipment sustenance, parachutes and multispectral camouflage nets, land-based, naval and aerial surveillance, spatial intelligence, smart surveillance and perimeter security, secure communication and satellite systems, medical equipment and personal protection gears are other products.

Besides the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy, representatives from the border guarding forces and the state police forces would also participate in the event.

India has a structured programme for conducting bilateral and multilateral training exercises with many foreign countries to boost interoperability, enhance combat skills, and strengthen defence cooperation. Several such events are held in India and overseas every year involving all three services.