The Indian and United States armies have begun the 22nd edition of Yudh Abhyas, their annual bilateral military exercise, with troops from both countries training together in challenging terrain.

The exercise is being conducted at the Auli Foreign Training Node in Uttarakhand and the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Bikaner, Rajasthan. Around 600 personnel from each country are participating.

This year’s exercise includes training in Integrated Battle Groups, infantry operations, drone employment, autonomous systems and long-range precision fires. These areas reflect the increasing role of technology and unmanned systems in modern military operations.

The U.S. contingent includes soldiers from the 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the 11th Airborne Division, popularly known as the “Arctic Angels.” Indian Army units are also participating in the training programme.

The opening ceremony at Auli brought together senior officers from both countries, who highlighted the importance of interoperability and coordinated operations.

The exercise is intended to help the two armies understand each other’s operational procedures and improve their ability to work together during complex missions.

Training across both mountainous and desert environments also provides an opportunity to practise different operational scenarios and test military equipment under challenging conditions.

The latest edition of Yudh Abhyas comes as India and the United States continue to expand defence cooperation, including areas involving emerging military technologies, information sharing and joint training.