Berhampur: Military weapons and equipment were displayed at the 'Know your Army' exhibition held here on Friday.

The Army Air Defence College, Gopalpur, had organised the event at the Khallikote College Stadium.

The exhibition drew hundreds of school students of Berhampur and nearby areas, their parents and the general public.

"It was organised especially to allow the students of various schools and colleges to see military weapons and equipment. The exhibition would sensitise the students and provide them more information to know the Army and create interest in them to join it in the future," said deputy commandant Major General P.S. Bhatia, who inaugurated the exhibition.

Infantry combat vehicles, communication equipment, rifles, light machine and medium machine guns, rocket launchers, sniper rifles, air defence guns and air defence radars were displayed at the event.

The anti-aircraft guns demonstrated included the L/70 gun, QF-40mm and ZU-23mm twin barrel gun, which play a major role in the air defence of the Indian Army.

Fly catcher radar with 20km surveillance, IGLA-1m missiles, 5.56 mm INSAS light machine gun, 5.56 mm INSAS rifle, 7.62 mm light machine guns and many such weapons attracted the students.

Class VIII student Pratyush Nandan of De Paul School said: "Earlier I had never seen any Army equipment. The display at the exhibition was a great experience for me. When I would grow up, I would join the Army and use these weapons against the enemies of our country."

Class VIII student Jitika Das of St. Vincent Convent School said the infantry combat vehicles was too good.

"When we requested the officer he allowed us to get into the vehicle and I was astonished at its technical quality. I think we are safe because of the Army personnel and such magnificent equipment," Jitika said.

The Army Air Defence College is a training institution and dates back to the pre-Independence era, when the School of Artillery was located at Quetta and the anti-aircraft wing, at Karachi.