New Delhi: India and the US Tuesday commenced the 22nd edition of Yudh Abhyas, the annual joint Army exercise, with a focus on ‘technology infusion’.
In a first, the exercise is being conducted simultaneously across two locations, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan.
The opening ceremony was held at the Auli Foreign Training Node, where Major General Amaresh Gunjan of the Indian Army and Col. Benjamin Jackman of the US Army addressed contingents of about 600 personnel from each country.
“The exercise is aimed at enhancing the joint military capability of both armies for employment of Integrated Battle Groups in mountainous and semi-mountainous terrain, with emphasis on infantry-dominated operations. It will strengthen interoperability, facilitate exchanges of best operational practices and strengthen joint planning and execution,” said a press statement issued Tuesday.
Exercise #YudhAbhyas 2026 🇮🇳🤝🇺🇸
The 22nd edition of the #India–#US Joint Military Exercise #YudhAbhyas commenced today. The exercise is being conducted simultaneously at Auli, Uttarakhand and Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan, with 600 personnel from both Armies… pic.twitter.com/QJGCEPAKFH
— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) September 15, 2026
But amid shifting warfare techniques, technology is emerging as one of the central themes. At the Mahajan range, both armies are expected to demonstrate contemporary weapons systems and train with drones and autonomous platforms for surveillance and reconnaissance.
Military specialists from the two countries will also discuss emerging technologies and the implications of multi-domain warfare.
Yudh Abhyaas began in 2004 focusing on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism, while command-post exercises focused on planning and coordination for UN missions. It has since evolved to include brigade-level and field training exercises with a focus on hybrid warfare, evident in the 22nd iteration.
India and the US conduct the maximum military exercises among any country.
At sea, their navies participate in Malabar, which began as a bilateral India-US exercise in 1992 and has since expanded to include Japan and Australia as part of the QUAD. Another exercise, Salvex, focuses on salvage and diving operations, as well as regular passage exercises.
The armies separately conduct Vajra Prahar, a special forces exercise. Tiger Triumph brings together the Indian and American armies, navies and air forces for amphibious operations and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions along India’s eastern coast.
In the air, the Indian Air Force and the US Air Force participate in Cope India, another longstanding bilateral exercise. An American contingent is also expected to take part in the latest edition of Tarang Shakti, an Indian-led multinational air exercise in Jodhpur next month.
Despite tariff tensions in 2025 in Trump 2.0, military engagement between the two countries has continued. The 21st edition of Yudh Abhyaas was held in Alaska. In August last year, INS Sindhuvijay was moored alongside the USS Frank Cable amid political tensions “to demonstrate the submarine tender’s capacity to maintain and repair allied and partner submarines throughout the Indo-Pacific”.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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