The Indian Air Force has been conducting a major war exercise in the northeast part of the country in coordination with the army to test their combat potential, reported a local daily Friday in Guwahati, state capital of Assam.

"The Indian Air Force's (IAF) Shillong-based Eastern Air Command commenced the exercise codenamed 'Pralay' (Apocalypse) on Feb. 29," an air force officer was quoted as saying.

The exercise involves joint army-air operations by the IAF and the Indian Army's Kolkata-based Eastern Command, senior air force and army officers told the daily on Thursday.

"The annual exercise is aimed at testing the combat potential of the IAF in various roles such as air defense, ground support operations, counter air operations, electronic warfare, joint operations with the army, including special operations by day and night," an officer said.

Among the aircraft participating in the exercise are the frontline Sukhoi-30, Mirage-2000, MiG-29, Jaguar, MiG-21 Bison fighter aircraft, Mi-17 helicopters, AN-32 and C-130J transport planes, the AWACS, flight refueling aircraft, as well as remotely piloted aircraft from the army.

"It also includes conduct of Special Forces operations and night operations in conjunction with ground forces," the officer said.

The entire spectrum of air operations by aircraft under dense air defence environment is being practiced both by day and night.

The exercise also includes facets of network centric operations, electronic warfare as well as information warfare and all technology-intensive battle maneuvers.

Apart from war fighting in the skies, various ground contingencies related to air force operations are being tested.

"Lessons learnt from this exercise would be incorporated in future operational strategies," an army officer said.

The Eastern Army Command is actively taking part to train the forces in joint operations, the officials added.