The Defence Minister was scheduled to witness a joint drill of Indian Army and IAF in deserts close to Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan on May 3, sources said here.
But Parliament is in session and there are several other commitments due to which the Defence Minister will not be able to witness the summer training exercise of the forces, they said.
Antony was to witness the exercise along with Army Chief Gen V K Singh who will reach the area on May 2.
Spearheaded by Jaipur-based South Western Command of Indian Army- also known as the Sapta Shakti Command- the exercise involves army troops sharpening their battle skills in peak of summer.
The exercise is conducted with more than 50,000 troops from infantry, armoured and artillery units coordinating their skills to mount an offensive on the enemy.
During the culmination stage, the Indian Army would be assisted by frontline fighter aircraft of the IAF which would assist the troops in launching a concerted attack on the enemy defences.
"The exercise would be a platform to validate the new concepts, systems, equipments and arms inducted into the Army in recent years," officials said.
A large number of innovations and modifications which were carried out by the Army units and formations recently to enhance their combat power are being tested in the field, they said. PTI AD AJD
