Indian Army Conducts ‘VAYU SAMANVAY-II’ Drone and Counter-Drone Exercise in Desert Sector
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 1st November 2025: The Indian Army successfully conducted a large-scale Drone and Counter-Drone Exercise, ‘VAYU SAMANVAY-II’, from October 28 to 29, 2025, in forward areas of the Desert Sector under the aegis of the Southern Command. The exercise was aimed at validating the Army’s preparedness for next-generation warfare by integrating aerial and ground assets and enabling fusion across multi-domain command and control centres in a realistic, electronic warfare, and contested operational environment.
The two-day exercise focused on testing doctrinal precepts for drone and counter-drone operations, thereby strengthening the Indian Army’s ability to counter evolving aerial threats. The desert terrain and challenging weather conditions provided an ideal setting to assess operational effectiveness in real-world scenarios.
‘VAYU SAMANVAY-II’ also showcased joint interoperability among various arms of the Indian Army, highlighting coordination and synergy required for technology-enabled operations in sensitive frontier regions. The exercise enabled troops to experiment with and refine the use of indigenous technologies under operational conditions.
Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, complimented all participants for the successful execution of the exercise. He emphasized that the lessons drawn from ‘VAYU SAMANVAY-II’ will directly contribute to capability development and accelerate the induction of advanced drone and counter-drone systems within the Indian Army.
The exercise marks another step forward in the Army’s efforts to modernize its operational capabilities, foster innovation, and ensure readiness to counter emerging threats across all domains. It reaffirms the Indian Army’s commitment to becoming a technology-driven, agile, and future-ready force capable of dominating the evolving battlespace.
