New Delhi: India and the United Arab Emirates have begun Exercise Mountain Guardian 2026 at the Foreign Training Node in Chaubatia, Uttarakhand on Monday. The drills will see 92 personnel for two weeks of mountain warfare training from October 5 to 18.
The exercise is designed to improve interoperability, mutual understanding and cooperation between the two armies in challenging mountainous terrain.
The contingents are equally divided, with 46 personnel from each side. The Indian Army is represented by troops from a Bhairav Battalion, while the UAE army has fielded personnel from a Mountain Infantry Battalion, with women officers and combatants from both armies participating across specialist roles.
Training will include joint planning, tactical drills, firing practices, physical endurance training, rock climbing, obstacle training and integrated field exercises. Troops will also establish surveillance grids and operate drones, combining technology enabled surveillance with conventional field skills needed for movement, observation and coordination in rugged terrain.
Mountain warfare places particular demands on troops because steep ground, restricted mobility, changing weather and difficult observation can complicate movement and situational awareness. The exercise therefore combines physical conditioning with surveillance, firing drills and coordinated planning without tying the training to any specific operational theatre.
Drones and tactical interoperability
The defence ministry said the exercise will also involve technology enabled operations and an exchange of tactics, techniques and procedures relevant to mountainous terrain. Interoperability refers to the ability of forces from different countries to plan, coordinate and operate effectively together despite differences in training methods and procedures.
The engagement follows Exercise Desert Cyclone II in Abu Dhabi in December 2025, where Indian and UAE troops trained in urban and sub-conventional operations, including the integration of unmanned aerial systems and counter-UAS techniques, a drill covered earlier by RNA Media. Army-level engagement continued in January when the then Army chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, met senior UAE military leaders to discuss joint training, interoperability and professional military exchanges.
Mountain Guardian is intended to give both armies an opportunity to exchange professional experience, sharpen tactical proficiency and share best practices in operational procedures. The Defence ministry said the exercise is expected to strengthen military-to-military cooperation and reinforce trust between the two forces through sustained joint training in demanding terrain.