Exercise Maitree XV: Indian, Thai armies sharpen combat skills in joint warfare drills in Thailand

New Delhi: Indian and Thai soldiers are training together in combat drills as exercise Maitree XV gets underway in Thailand, with the two sides practising tactics for counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations. The training covers a range of battlefield situations, from searches and vehicle checks to close-quarter combat and dealing with explosive threats.

The exercise is being held at Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp in Surat Thani from August 18 to 31. As earlier reported by RNA Media, 85 personnel from each army were expected to take part, with the Indian contingent comprising mainly troops from 9 Gorkha Rifles and the Royal Thai Army represented by the 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division.

Much of the training is centred on operations in built-up areas, where troops need to move quickly while staying alert to threats at close range. Indian and Thai soldiers are carrying out mobile vehicle check post drills, cordon and search operations and room-intervention exercises to improve coordination and familiarise themselves with each other’s tactical methods.

The two armies are also exchanging close-combat techniques. Thai troops demonstrated Muay Thai, while the Indian contingent showcased the Army Martial Arts Routine (Amar), giving both sides an opportunity to learn from each other’s approaches to physical conditioning, combat and self-defence.

Counter-IED training is another part of the exercise, with troops sharing methods to identify suspected improvised explosive sevices and practise procedures for responding to such threats during operations.

The latest edition follows Maitree XIV, which was held at Umroi in Meghalaya in September 2025. The previous exercise brought together 120 Indian soldiers from the Madras Regiment and 53 Royal Thai Army personnel for training in counterterrorism operations, tactical drills, special weapons handling, physical fitness and joint planning.

Maitree XIV also included jungle survival, combat first aid and casualty evacuation drills, along with trench-clearing exercises and the use of unmanned aerial vehicles to support joint operations. The exercise concluded with a validation drill that tested the two contingents’ ability to plan and carry out coordinated operations.

The Maitree series, which began in 2006, has since given the Indian and Thai armies a regular platform to train together and exchange operational experience. Over successive editions, the exercise has expanded from conventional field skills to include technology-supported operations and specialized counter-terrorism drills.

Maitree XV, builds on that experience with a stronger focus on close-quarter combat, semi-urban operations and counter-IED skills. By repeatedly training together, the two armies can improve their understanding of each other’s procedures and develop greater coordination for demanding joint operations.