Indian Armed Forces Flex Joint Warfighting Muscle in High-Altitude Exercise Prachand Prahar

Arunachal Pradesh, India – In a show of strength along the northern frontier, the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy wrapped up a high-intensity, tri-service exercise in the rugged Himalayas. Codenamed Prachand Prahar, the three-day war drill (March 25-27) saw India’s military testing integrated multi-domain operations—a concept that’s becoming the backbone of modern warfare.

This wasn’t just another firepower demonstration. The Indian Armed Forces went all-in on real-time surveillance, AI-driven targeting, and precision strikes—all under heavy electronic warfare conditions. Long-range surveillance aircraft, maritime domain awareness platforms, UAVs, and satellites worked in sync to track and eliminate simulated enemy positions.

How the Military Executed the Operation

It all started with the deployment of advanced surveillance assets from all three services. The Air Force sent out its long-range surveillance aircraft, scanning the high-altitude terrain for potential targets. The Navy brought in its Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) aircraft, ensuring India’s reach extends beyond just land-based warfare. Meanwhile, UAVs and satellite resources provided real-time intelligence, eliminating any blind spots. Indian Army's Special Forces units were inserted into forward areas to conduct high-risk reconnaissance missions.

Once the targets were locked, the military unleashed its full firepower—and it wasn’t just conventional artillery. Fighter jets conducted air-to-ground precision strikes. Long-range rockets and medium artillery bombarded enemy positions from a distance. Swarm drones, loitering munitions, and kamikaze drones executed AI-driven strikes. Attack helicopters provided close-air support in contested zones.

All of this played out under simulated electronic warfare conditions, where enemy forces were actively jamming communications and disrupting targeting systems.

Senior military officials, including Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Ram Chander Tiwari, Eastern Air Commander Air Marshal Surat Singh, and Navy’s Commodore Ajay Yadav, were on the ground to assess how well the joint operations were executed. Notably, the exercise was in continuation with Exercise Poorvi Prahar held in November 2024, which had focused on the integrated application of aviation assets. Their verdict? The Indian military has never been more prepared for coordinated, high-tech warfare in extreme conditions.

India’s Message to Adversaries: We’re Ready for Multi-Domain War

Exercise Prachand Prahar wasn’t just about testing new weapons—it was a statement. China and Pakistan have been sharpening their multi-domain warfare capabilities, from cyber-attacks to space-based surveillance. India is making sure it doesn’t just keep up—it stays ahead.

The Ukraine war has proven one thing: artillery and drones rule the battlefield. But brute force alone won’t win wars. Speed, coordination, and mobility are just as important. India faces a unique challenge: a potential two-front war with China and Pakistan. Both adversaries are modernizing their military tech—China’s PLA has been conducting joint cyber-electronic-space operations for years. India can’t afford to fight the next war with yesterday’s tactics.

That’s where exercises like Prachand Prahar come in. They test whether India’s military can operate as a single, unified force across land, air, sea, space, and cyberspace.

Joint Operations and Theatre Commands—The Road Ahead

India is moving towards a theatre command structure, where all three services fight as one integrated force. But making that a reality is easier said than done. Multi-domain exercises like this put those reforms to the test—and expose gaps before they become battlefield weaknesses.

For example, the military isn’t just testing firepower anymore. How fast can forces detect, engage, and relocate before the enemy responds? How well do different service branches share intelligence in real time? These questions matter just as much as the range of a missile or the firepower of a rocket system.