In a recent demonstration of the Indian Army’s commitment to maintaining a high state of readiness, Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar, PVSM, AVSM, Army Commander of the Western Command, conducted a thorough review of the operational preparedness of the Airawat Division.

During his visit, Lt. Gen. Katiyar, who has a distinguished career including roles as Director General of Military Operations and General Officer Commanding I Corps, interacted with all ranks of the Airawat Division. The Airawat Division, officially known as the 1 Armoured Division, holds the nickname “Black Elephant” or “Airawat Division” and is headquartered in Patiala. It is renowned for its operational prowess, notably highlighted in historical engagements such as the 1948 operation in Hyderabad.

Lt. Gen. Katiyar commended the soldiers for their professionalism, operational readiness, and unwavering commitment to national security. His engagement with the troops underscores the leadership’s focus on understanding and enhancing the capabilities of the forces under their command.

The Indian Army, which consumes 50% of India’s defence budget, is steadily transitioning towards indigenization of its defence equipment, though the process is slow with long procurement cycles. Despite this, the Army has been making strides in adopting indigenous technologies, as evidenced by recent projects like drone integration and advanced combat simulators, aiming to bolster their operational effectiveness.

This review by Lt. Gen. Katiyar reinforces the Indian Army’s commitment to maintaining a “Strong and Capable” force, “Forever Ready for Operations,” as reflected in the hashtags used by the Western Command in their post: #StrongAndCapable, #ForeverReadyForOperations, #KhargaCorps.