Port Blair, Feb 21: Hon’ble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu, on 21 Feb 2024 witnessed a Joint Services Operational Demonstration at Radhanagar beach on Swaraj Dweep Island on the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

The integral combat platforms and forces of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) demonstrated multi-dimensional operational capabilities, including an amphibious landing.

The Hon’ble President was briefed by Commander-in-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN) Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan, AVSM, VM, on the operational capabilities and state of readiness of the Command’s assets, highlighting the integrated application of combat power of the nation’s only Joint Services Command. The demonstration highlighted the synergy, cooperation and interoperability between the services for achieving desired outcomes.

The operational demonstration featured various joint operation facets, including Combat Free Fall (CFF) and helocasting by the Marine Commandoes (MARCOS), Special Heliborne Operations (SHBO) by Ghatak Platoon, amphibious assault by infantry troops, utilising BMPs with over 150 combatants landing on the beach. Naval Gun Fire Support (NGFS), Counter Surface Force Operations (CSFO), Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, and vertical replenishment at sea were also demonstrated. The amphibious landing of infantry troops on the beach was executed by Landing Ship Tank (Medium) and Landing Craft Utility (LCU).

The operational demonstration culminated with the flypast of Dornier aircraft, MI-17 V5, ALH and Chetak helicopters flying in close formation depicting the Joint Services synergy and Combat potential of the Andaman & Nicobar Command.