NEW DELHI: An Indian Army paratrooper has carried out a tandem parachute jump over Behat Drop Zone with a dog handler and a combat canine, in an exercise the Army described as a rare instance of an airborne descent involving a military dog.On Tuesday, Surya Command, the Army’s Central Command, shared a video of the jump on X. It shows the dog handler and combat canine descending beneath an opened parachute alongside the paratrooper, with the team carrying a full combat load.“Paws in the Sky, Courage on the Ground” Surya Command wrote in the post.The command also said, “In a remarkable display of courage, precision and combat readiness, a paratrooper of #SuryaWarrior undertook a tandem parachute jump over Behat DZ with a dog handler and his combat canine, carrying a full combat load.”It said the jump is “believed to be among the first instances of a tandem descent involving a dog handler and his canine”, adding that it builds on “earlier free-fall jumps undertaken with the dog”.The Army said the exercise showcased trust, teamwork and the strong bond between soldiers and combat canines during an airborne operation.Military dogs form a specialised component of India’s security forces, with roles including guarding and patrolling, explosives detection, search and rescue, and other operational tasks.The Army’s latest exercise demonstrates the training involved in enabling a combat canine to accompany troops during an airborne descent.