Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026
Why in News?
The 22nd edition of Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026 has begun between the Indian Army and the US Army to boost operational interoperability, combat readiness, and strategic cooperation.
It is an annual bilateral Army exercise between India and the US, started in 2004. What began as peacekeeping and counter-insurgency training has now grown to cover high-altitude warfare, hybrid threats, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), and multi-domain operations.
Focus Areas: The 2026 edition is focused on high-altitude warfare, long-range precision fires, counter-drone capabilities, and integrated multi-domain operations.
Participation: The exercise includes Arctic-trained soldiers from the US Army's 11th Airborne Division (Fort Wainwright, Alaska) and the 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force (3MDTF), which brings expertise in precision fires and integrated command-and-control systems.
Training Components: The drills include a Command Post Exercise (CPX) and a Field Training Exercise (FTX), ending with a combined live-fire demonstration with rocket systems and long-range precision fires.
Counter-Drone Capability: For the first time in this exercise, the US Army's Mobile Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System (M-LIDS) is being deployed in India to train troops against emerging drone threats.
Strategic Framework: The exercise is held under the larger Operation Pathways framework, which aims to strengthen information sharing, interoperability, and joint operational preparedness.
Other Exercises Between India and the US: Exercise Vajra Prahar (Special Forces), SALVEX (Navy), Cope India (Air Force), and Malabar Exercise (a quad naval exercise involving India, the US, Japan, and Australia).
Major Bilateral Exercises of the Indian Army
| Exercise Name | Partner Country | Focus Area / Key Objective |
| Yudh Abhyas | America, | Mountain Warfare and Counter-Terrorism |
| Vajra Prahaar | America, | Tactical drills and Special Forces operations |
| Surya Kiran | Nepal 6. | Counter-terrorism and operations in difficult terrain |
| Warrior Ajeya | United Kingdom | Counter-Terror Operations in Urban and Semi-Urban Environments |
| Sampriti Sampriti | Bangladesh. | Counter-insurgency and tactical coordination |
| Power | French | Semi-desert and sub-conventional operation |
| Dharma Goalkeeper | Japan Japan | Security and counter-terrorism operations |
| Mitra Shakti | Sri Lanka? | Counter-insurgency and UN peace-keeping operations |
| Nomadic Elephant | Mongolia Mongolia | Mountain and rural warfare tactics |
| Garuda Shakti | Indonesian | Jungle Warfare & Special Forces Cooperation |
| Dustlik" | Uzbekistan (October 2023) | Counter-terrorism and military tactical exercises |
| Khanjar | Kyrgyzstan | Close-quarters battle (CQB) special operations |
| Shakti Tigers | Malaysia. | Guerrilla and sub-conventional warfare |
| Austra Hind | Australia - | Defense cooperation and tactical operations |
| Cyclone Desert | Egypt. | Combat Readiness and Desert Warfare |
Key Domestic Exercises
These internal drills are to assess the combat readiness and the ability of strategic deployment of the Thal Sena in its command zones:
Gandiv Vijay: Concentrate on validating offensive capabilities and operational integration.
Vijay Prahar: To hone up high-tech, fast-moving battle groups in desert environments.
Army, Navy & Air Force Tri-Services Exercises
The Indian Army also works with the Air Force and Navy for large strategic games:
Tiger Triumph: A joint bilateral exercise with the USA in the area of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).
Tropex: The largest domestic asset mobilization exercise of the theater level
