Auli, Sep 15. The Indian and US armies on September 15 formally began their annual bilateral exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026 at Auli in Uttarakhand, with around 1,200 troops from the two sides undertaking two weeks of training focused on combat readiness, interoperability and joint operations across high-altitude and multi-domain environments.
According to a statement issued by the US Department of War, the exercise brings together approximately 600 US Army personnel, including troops from the 11th Airborne Division’s ‘Arctic Angels’, and a similar number of Indian Army personnel. The training is scheduled to continue until September 28 and will combine command-post exercises, field training, mountain warfare and cold-weather operations with advanced counter-drone and precision-fire capabilities.
The exercise comes as India and the US continue to deepen military interoperability, particularly in areas involving emerging technologies, unmanned systems and multi-domain operations.
The two-week programme will include a brigade-level command post exercise, field training exercises, expert-level academic exchanges and subject-matter expert discussions, besides specialised training in mountain warfare and cold-weather operations.
Counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) training will be conducted at Auli, while live-fire exercises involving the US Army’s High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), Stinger air-defence missile and Mobile Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System (M-LIDS) are planned at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.
US Army Col. Ben Jackman, commander of the 1st Mobile Brigade Combat Team of the 11th Airborne Division, said the exercise would provide an opportunity to strengthen bilateral readiness, cooperation and interoperability.
Training alongside the Indian Army, he said, would help build mutual trust and enhance the combat credibility of the participating forces.
Indian Army Maj Gen Amaresh Gunjan, General Officer Commanding, 14th Infantry Division, said the exercise would provide a platform for the two armies to exchange tactics, techniques and procedures across the spectrum of multi-domain operations.
He said the exercise would link capabilities ranging from precision fires at the Mahajan Field Firing Range to mountain warfare operations in Auli, strengthening cooperation between the two armies and preparing them to operate together in diverse environments.
The exercise will follow a graduated training programme, beginning with academic discussions and exchanges between subject-matter experts, followed by a brigade-level command-post exercise and progressively more complex field activities.
The participating troops will subsequently undertake situational training exercise lanes, counter-UAS drills and live-fire exercises, allowing them to establish common operating procedures before applying them under increasingly demanding scenarios.
The US Army said the participating forces would also assess their ability to synchronise combined-arms operations and rapidly project land power during the exercise.
The opening phase following the inauguration included expert discussions on space, cyber and multi-domain operations, highlighting the growing emphasis on integrating capabilities across traditional and emerging domains of warfare.
This year’s Yudh Abhyas places particular emphasis on high-altitude operations, multi-domain warfare, unmanned aerial systems and counter-UAS operations, while incorporating systems such as HIMARS and M-LIDS into the training.
The exercise is intended not only to improve tactical interoperability but also to enable the two forces to develop common procedures and understand each other’s operational concepts. The progression from command-post activities to field exercises and live firing is designed to test that interoperability under increasingly realistic conditions.
Yudh Abhyas has been conducted annually since 2004 under the US Army Pacific’s sponsorship. Over the years, the exercise has evolved from conventional bilateral field training into a broader platform for exchanging operational practices and developing interoperability between the two militaries.
The 2026 edition further expands that focus by combining mountain warfare, precision fires, counter-drone capabilities and space, cyber and multi-domain operations.
The exercise is also significant against the backdrop of the two countries’ broader Major Defence Partnership and their shared interest in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific. For the US Army, the participation of the 11th Airborne Division brings specialised expertise in Arctic, airborne and extreme-environment operations, while the Indian Army contributes extensive experience in high-altitude warfare.
The exercise will conclude with a formal closing ceremony on September 28.
