India, US kick off two-week military exercise focused on high-altitude warfare
India and the United States have begun 22nd edition of their joint military exercise in the mountains of Uttarakhand, bringing around 1,200 troops together for two weeks of high-altitude and multidomain warfare training.
The two-week exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026 opened at Uttarakhand's Auli on Tuesday, with US soldiers from the 11th Airborne Division joining Indian Army personnel for drills designed to sharpen battlefield coordination and strengthen the two countries' defence partnership.
The exercise is aimed at improving battlefield readiness, strengthening interoperability and allowing the two forces to develop common operating procedures through realistic training.
"Over the next two weeks, US and Indian soldiers will train together, sharing skills, building readiness, and improving collaboration between our forces," US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said on X.
The US Embassy in India said the exercise would combine field training, live-fire drills and exchanges of military expertise and experience. It said Yudh Abhyas 2026 would focus on emerging security challenges while further strengthening the US-India defence partnership.HIGH-ALTITUDE AND MULTIDOMAIN TRAINING
The exercise will feature a wide range of activities, including a brigade-level command post exercise, field training, expert discussions, mountain warfare and cold-weather operations.
Troops will also conduct counter-unmanned aircraft system training at Auli. Live-fire exercises involving the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, Stinger systems and the Mobile Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System, or M-LIDS, are planned at the Mahajan Field Firing Range.
The training is designed to gradually increase in complexity. It will begin with expert academic discussions, subject-matter exchanges and command-post exercises before moving into tactical training and live-fire activities. This approach is intended to help the two armies establish common procedures before testing them in more demanding scenarios.
Colonel Ben Jackman, commander of the 1st Mobile Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, said the exercise would help both forces build greater trust.
"Yudh Abhyas 2026 provides our soldiers an opportunity to enhance bilateral readiness, cooperation and interoperability between US and Indian Army forces," Jackman said. "By training alongside the Indian Army, we are strengthening our mutual trust and building combat credibility."FOCUS ON MODERN WARFARE
This year's exercise places particular emphasis on high-altitude operations and multidomain warfare, alongside the growing role of unmanned systems and counter-drone capabilities. The two armies will also work on integrating modern systems such as HIMARS and M-LIDS into wider military operations.
According to details published by the US Department of Defense on DVIDS, Major General Amaresh Gunjan, General Officer Commanding, 14th Infantry Division, said the exercise would provide an opportunity for both sides to compare and develop operational practices.
"Exercise Yudh Abhyas gives us a platform to exchange tactics, techniques and procedures across the full spectrum of multidomain operations, from precision fires at Mahajan to mountain warfare here in Auli," Gunjan said. "It strengthens the bond between our armies and prepares us to prevail together in any environment."
Following the opening ceremony, troops began expert-level discussions on space, cyber and multidomain operations.BUILDING INTEROPERABILITY
The US and Indian forces will also assess their ability to coordinate combined-arms operations and rapidly deploy land forces during the exercise.
Yudh Abhyas has been conducted annually since 2004 and is sponsored by the US Army Pacific in partnership with the Indian Army. The exercise has become an important part of military cooperation between the two countries, with both sides using it to improve their ability to operate together across different operational environments.
Yudh Abhyas 2026 is scheduled to conclude on September 28 with a formal closing ceremony. The exercise also supports the broader US-India Major Defence Partnership and the two countries' stated commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.- EndsPublished By: Satyam SinghPublished On: Sep 15, 2026 21:39 IST
