August 19, Colombo (LNW): The Indian and Sri Lankan armies have incorporated highly trained canines into their ongoing Mitra Shakti bilateral exercise, currently taking place at the Army Training School in Maduru Oya, Sri Lanka.
The 10th edition of this joint military drill, running from August 12 to 25, aims to bolster counter-insurgency capabilities and foster deeper military cooperation between the two nations.
India has fielded Zac, a two-and-a-half-year-old Belgian Malinois known for his advanced tactical skills, while Sri Lanka has deployed two specially trained dogs.
Zac is proficient in operations such as cordon-and-search, search-and-destroy missions, urban combat, and jungle reconnaissance.
Additionally, his specialised training includes laser-guided assaults and weapon retrieval, making him a critical asset during tactical operations.
Zac was trained at the Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) Centre and College in Meerut, where he developed into an “assault K9” capable of handling high-risk scenarios.
According to Major Rishi Sharma, the K9 Detachment Commander, Zac plays a pivotal role as both a force multiplier and first responder.
During the exercise, Zac will be engaged in a variety of tasks, ranging from house interventions to jungle searches, demonstrating his capability in counter-insurgency operations.
Notably, in a recent scenario, Zac successfully apprehended an assailant attempting to flee a roadblock.
Modern military dogs like Zac are routinely utilised in urban operations for vehicle inspections, explosive detection, and search-and-assault missions.
Equipped with head-mounted tactical cameras, these dogs can provide real-time surveillance and execute stealth attacks, enhancing the effectiveness of the operations.
The Indian contingent, comprising 106 personnel from the Rajputana Rifles and other units, joins forces with the Sri Lankan Gajaba Regiment in this exercise.
According to the Indian Army, the joint training focuses on semi-urban environments and covers drills such as counter-terrorism responses, intelligence gathering, and securing key locations like helipads.
The broader aim of Exercise Mitra Shakti is to enhance inter-operability and strengthen joint operational readiness.
Both sides view this collaboration as an opportunity to exchange best practices and foster camaraderie, with a focus on improving tactics and techniques under United Nations Chapter VII mandates for peacekeeping.
