In a landmark move to augment the training infrastructure of special forces and combat free-fallers, the Special Forces Training School (SFTS) at Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh, gets Indian Army’s first Vertical Wind Tunnel (VWT).
Vertical Wind Tunnel
 General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Army Staff, virtually inaugurated the facility. The state-of-the-art wind tunnel is set to refine the Combat Freefall (CFF) skills of armed forces personnel. As part of the ongoing transformation of the Indian Army, technology is being infused into the training methodologies. Installation of a VWT is also a step in that direction. Functioning as a freefall simulator, the VWT creates a column of air at specific velocities, orchestrating different CFF conditions.
The system simulates varied freefall scenarios which is crucial in assessing individual reactions to numerous situations in an airborne operating environment. It reduces potential instability in the air and during parachute deployment thereby assisting trainees to get used to free-fall conditions. Installation of the first VWT is aligned with the current impetus given to modernising the training infrastructure in the Indian Army.
It is poised to greatly enhance the operational readiness of the future-ready Indian Army, ensuring that the special forces are fully prepared to tackle contemporary challenges of current and future battlefields. It promises faster and more precise training results.
PARA SF
Para (Special Forces) is a group of special forces battalions of the Parachute Regiment in the Indian Army. These units specialize in various roles including counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, counter-insurgency and direct action.
Active: 1 July 1966–present
Current commander: Lt. Gen. Pushpendra Singh SM
Garrison/HQ: Bengaluru Cantonment, Bengaluru
Motto(s): Shatrujeet (The Conqueror)
Part of: Parachute Regiment
