Exercise ROTOR CLAP III
Why in News?
The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully concluded Exercise ROTOR CLAP III, a week-long specialized military drill aimed at validating advanced counter-drone operational strategies.
Core Objectives & Theme
- Primary Theme: Centred entirely around "Counter-UAS" operations.
- Strategic Aim: Validating rotary-wing combat concepts to detect, track, and eliminate low-altitude enemy drones.
- Tactical Upgrade: Adapting and perfecting helicopter fleet manoeuvres to combat modern swarm threats.
- Venue: Pokhran Field Firing Range situated in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan.
- Terrain Training: The vast desert layout provided near-war combat conditions, forcing aircrews to perfect coordination in challenging environment matrices.
Participating Aircraft Platforms
- Attack Gunships: High-end combat platforms like the AH-64 Apache, Mi-25/35, and the indigenous HAL Prachand gunships.
- Transport & Utility Fleets: Heavy-lift Chinook, multi-role Mi-17, and the indigenous Dhruv helicopters.
- Live Fire Engagements: Attack helicopters actively fired rocket salvos and precision missiles at moving simulated aerial targets.
- Multi-role Tactical Drills: Units rehearsed precision strikes, reconnaissance, combat search, battlefield support, and simulated casualty evacuations.
- Technology Integration: Evaluated future concepts including AI-enabled radars, electronic warfare jammers, and specialized micro-missiles to turn helicopters into efficient drone-hunting assets.
