India, UAE begin Mountain Guardian exercise to sharpen mountain warfare skills
New Delhi, Oct 5. India and the United Arab Emirates on October 5 began a joint military exercise focused on mountain warfare, with troops from the two countries training together in challenging high-altitude terrain in Uttarakhand.
Exercise Mountain Guardian 2026, being held at the Foreign Training Node in Chaubatia from October 5 to 18, is aimed at enhancing interoperability, tactical coordination and mutual understanding between the two armies.
The exercise involves 92 personnel, with the Indian and UAE contingents comprising 46 troops each. The Indian contingent has been drawn from a Bhairav Battalion, while the UAE contingent consists of personnel from a Mountain Infantry Battalion.
Women officers and combatants from both armies are also taking part in the exercise in a range of specialised roles, reflecting the increasing participation of women personnel in operational and training activities.
The two sides will conduct a series of joint tactical and field exercises covering joint planning, combat drills, firing practices, surveillance-grid operations and drone employment. The training programme will also include physical endurance exercises, rock climbing, obstacle training and integrated field manoeuvres.
The exercise will place particular emphasis on technology-enabled operations and the exchange of tactics, techniques and procedures for operating in difficult mountainous environments.
The Indian and UAE troops are expected to share operational experience and best practices during the fortnight-long exercise, while enhancing their tactical proficiency and ability to operate together in demanding terrain.
The exercise is expected to further deepen defence cooperation between India and the UAE and strengthen military-to-military ties, as the two countries seek to expand their strategic partnership across a range of areas.
Mountain Guardian 2026 will also provide an opportunity for the two armies to build greater mutual trust and understanding through combined training and operational interaction.
