Southern Army Commander reviews ‘exercise Rudra Shakti’, showcases Indian Army’s high-intensity warfighting capability

PUNE: Troops of Southern Command of the Indian Army on Monday demonstrated its growing capability to conduct high-intensity, integrated operations in complex battlefield environments as Southern Army Commander Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth reviewed Exercise Rudra Shakti, a major all-arms manoeuvre with live firing conducted at the Pokhran field firing ranges in its border region in Rajasthan.


The exercise was executed by the newly raised Rudra Brigade and marked a significant milestone in validating new operational concepts and combat readiness in the desert sector. Senior commanders observed the exercise as multiple combat arms and services operated in close coordination, reflecting the Army’s evolving doctrine focused on speed, precision and jointness.



Exercise Rudra Shakti was conducted as a follow-up to Exercise Akhand Prahar, which had earlier tested and validated the Rudra Brigade’s organisational structure and employment philosophy. While Akhand Prahar focused on conceptual and structural validation, Rudra Shakti emphasised live firing and battlefield integration, further enhancing the brigade’s operational effectiveness.


The exercise witnessed synchronised employment of mechanised infantry and armoured elements supported by artillery firepower, air defence units and Army aviation assets.


Advanced platforms including the Armed Forces’ ALH-WSI helicopters and Apache attack helicopters were employed to provide aerial fire support and battlefield mobility. The operations were further reinforced by extensive use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Counter-UAS capabilities, underlining the Army’s increasing reliance on surveillance, precision targeting and digital battlefield management.


Observers noted that the seamless integration of land, air and digital domains was a key highlight of the exercise. Real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance inputs were effectively fused with manoeuvre and firepower, enabling troops to execute complex combat tasks with speed and accuracy in a simulated high-threat environment.


During the review, Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth interacted with officers and soldiers on the ground, commending all ranks for their exemplary training standards, professionalism and high levels of operational preparedness. He lauded the troops for their ability to execute demanding missions with cohesion and precision, despite the challenging desert terrain and the complexity of modern battlefield scenarios.


Senior Army officials said Exercise Rudra Shakti stands as a testimony to the Indian Army’s ongoing transformation, where organisational innovation, tactical evolution and technological integration are advancing in parallel. The exercise reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to remain mission-ready, technologically empowered and future-ready to effectively address emerging security challenges across diverse operational environments.


With a focus on integrated warfare, rapid decision-making and technological edge, the Indian Army continues to sharpen its combat capabilities, reinforcing deterrence and operational readiness in an increasingly dynamic security landscape.