ZAPAD 2021

Context

The Indian Army contingent will participate in a two-week multinational military exercise named 'ZAPAD 2021' at Nizhny in Russia.

key- highlights of 'ZAPAD 2021' exercise

• ZAPAD 2021 is one of the theatre level exercises of the Russian Armed Forces and will focus primarily on operations against terrorists. 
• The exercise begins at Nizhniy in Russia where the Indian contingent will participate.
• Over a dozen countries from Eurasian and South Asian Region will participate in this signature event.
  • Nine are Participating countries which include Mongolia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia, Russia, India and Belarus. 
  • The other eight countries are Observing countries which include Pakistan, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Uzbekistan and Sri Lanka.
• India will be participating in Zapad with a strength of 250 troops. 
• The NAGA Battalion group participating in the exercise will feature an all Arms combined task force.  

  • The Naga Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army.

• The exercise aims to enhance military and strategic ties amongst the participating nations while they plan & execute this exercise. 
• The Indian Contingent has been put through a strenuous training schedule which encompasses all facets of conventional operations including-
  • Mechanised
  • Airborne & heliborne
  • Counter terrorism
  • Combat conditioning
  • Firing.

• India also participated in the exercise TSENTR , which is part of the annual series of large scale exercises that form part of the Russian Armed Forces' annual training cycle.Economy