NEW DELHI: India and the US have launched their largest-ever ground combat exercise, Yudh Abhyas, at the Mahajan field firing ranges in Rajasthan. This 20th edition of the exercise aims to strengthen military interoperability and refine combat skills between the two nations.
An Indian Army officer highlighted the significance of this year’s event, noting a substantial increase in troop strength and equipment. India has deployed 600 soldiers from the Rajput Regiment, alongside personnel from other arms and services, while the US has sent 600 troops from the 1-24 Battalion of the Alaska-based 11th Airborne Division for the 21-day exercise.
The drills focus on counter-terrorism operations in a semi-desert environment, under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. Tactical exercises include joint responses to terrorist threats and combined field training missions simulating realistic combat scenarios.
The exercise will facilitate the exchange of best practices in tactics, techniques, and joint operational procedures, fostering deeper camaraderie between the two armies.
India and the US have been steadily expanding their strategic partnership through joint exercises like Vajra Prahar and Yudh Abhyas, as well as the Malabar naval wargames, which also involve Australia and Japan. India is set to host the next edition of the Malabar exercise in the Bay of Bengal this October, amid rising Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean region.
The US has secured significant Indian defense contracts worth over $21 billion since 2007. Two major projects currently in the pipeline include the $3 billion procurement of 31 MQ-9B Predator drones and the joint production of GE-F414 jet engines for the Tejas Mark-II fighter jets in India, featuring an 80% transfer of technology.
