Archive · 24 Sep 2026
India, US Armies Conduct Yudh Abhyas 2026 Drills
India and the United States are holding a large army exercise called Yudh Abhyas 2026.
Soldiers from both countries are training together in Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.
About 600 personnel from each country are participating.
They are practicing in both desert and mountain environments.
The soldiers are using artillery, air-defense equipment, helicopters and other systems.
Indian Apache helicopters are joining some of the ground exercises.
The troops are also learning how to identify targets and coordinate firing.
The exercise is meant to help the two armies communicate and work together better.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor visited Rajasthan’s Mahajan Field Firing Range during Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026.
The 22nd India-US bilateral exercise involves about 600 personnel from each country.
Training is taking place at facilities in Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, covering desert and mountainous terrain.
The drills include artillery, air defense, long-range weapons, small arms, attack helicopters and unmanned systems.
Indian and US troops are practicing joint planning, battlefield coordination, fire procedures and combined-arms operations.
- Who
- The Indian Army and United States Army, with US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor visiting the exercise venue.
- What
- The two armies are conducting Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026, including joint firing, maneuver and battlefield-coordination drills.
- When
- The exercise began on September 15, 2026; Sergio Gor visited the Mahajan range on Thursday, according to the report.
- Where
- Training is taking place at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan and the Auli Foreign Training Node in Uttarakhand.
- Why
- The exercise aims to improve combat readiness, interoperability, operational coordination and the exchange of tactics, techniques and procedures.
- Exercise
- Yudh Abhyas 2026
- Edition
- 22nd India-US bilateral exercise
- Participants
- Approximately 600 personnel from each country
- Locations
- Mahajan Field Firing Range, Rajasthan, and Auli Foreign Training Node, Uttarakhand
- Key systems
- M777 Ultra-Light Howitzer, Dhanush artillery gun, Pinaka launcher, L70 air-defense guns and M-LIDS systems
- Aviation
- Indian Army AH-64E Apache attack helicopters are participating in integrated drills
- Training focus
- Joint mission planning, target identification, fire procedures, battlefield coordination and combined-arms employment