India, Mongolia begin 18th ‘Nomadic Elephant’ military exercise in Uttarakhand
Pithoragarh, Sep 21. India and Mongolia began the 18th edition of the Nomadic Elephant bilateral military exercise at the Foreign Training Node in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, with the two armies focusing on enhancing interoperability and joint capabilities for counter-insurgency operations in mountainous and semi-urban terrain.
The annual platoon-level exercise is being conducted from September 21 to October 3, with 45 personnel each from the Indian Army and the Mongolian Armed Forces participating in the latest edition.
Nomadic Elephant is held alternately in India and Mongolia. The previous edition was conducted in Ulaanbaatar in May-June 2025.
The exercise is designed to strengthen the ability of the two forces to undertake counter-insurgency operations under a United Nations mandate, while providing troops an opportunity to train together in realistic operational situations.
The training programme will focus on tactical-level operations, exchange of operational best practices, refinement of combat drills and improving interoperability between the two armies.
Among the key areas of training are cordon-and-search operations, room intervention drills and special heliborne operations. The exercise will also cover cyber security, drone employment and counter-drone systems, reflecting the increasing role of technology in contemporary military operations.
The joint drills are intended to familiarise troops with each other’s operational procedures and enable them to coordinate effectively while operating in challenging terrain and simulated operational environments.
The Defence Ministry said the exercise would contribute to strengthening defence cooperation between India and Mongolia while further consolidating the longstanding ties of friendship, mutual trust and military cooperation between the two countries.
