A Multilateral Air Force exercise, ‘Exercise Samvedna’, is being led by Indian Air Force for understanding and sharing of response procedures between a number of friendly neighbouring nations. It is being conducted by Southern Air Command (SAC). Started on 12 March 2018, ‘Samvedna’ means ‘Empathy’ and will go on till 17 March 2018.
7 Points About ‘Exercise Samvedna 2018’:
- This exercise is focused on practising Air Force-centric Humanitarian And Disaster Relief (HADR) solutions in a Multi-national cooperative Disaster Management environment.
- It is the first composite HADR Air exercise in the South Asian region of its kind. This exercise would help in putting in place a basic framework for the conduct of Joint Air HADR operations, which will be further refined during subsequent exercises.
- This exercise is expected to lead to more coordinated and efficient HADR Air operations in the entire South Asian region when the need arises.
- The entire settings of exercise are based on the scenario of a tsunami in the western coast of India originating from an earthquake in Makran subduction zone in the Arabian Sea and resulting in post-tsunami disaster management along western coast and western islands of India.
- Air Forces of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, UAE and Myanmar have already committed resources and personnel for the exercise. Few other Air Forces from the region are also joined in.
- The first day of exercise was dedicated towards pre-exercise ground training with an aim of getting all participants on a common platform.
- The Table Top Exercise (13-14 March 2018) would be aimed at setting up a scenario of pre and post Tsunami disaster requirements and guide participants to work out Air Force Centric HADR solutions. Flying cum Field Training Exercise (15-16 March 2018) will be conducted from the dispersal area of Air Force Station Trivandrum to practice the flying/ field activities undertaken by Air Forces towards HADR under controlled conditions.
