New Delhi: The Indian and United States armies are set to expand the scope of their annual joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas this year by first time adding Apache attack helicopters and long-range strike capabilities underscoring the increasing complexity of bilateral defence cooperation.
The 22nd edition of Yudh Abhyas is scheduled to begin in the first week of September and will involve around 700 personnel, with approximately 350 soldiers from each country. The three-week exercise is aimed at enhancing interoperability and improving the ability of both the forces to work together in different combat environments.
The exercise will be held at two locations – Auli in Uttarakhand and Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.
Auli is of special strategic importance because of its location near the line of actual control (LAC) with China. Situated at an altitude of nearly 2,500 metres and roughly 95 kilometres from the frontier, the area offers conditions similar to those faced by troops deployed in high-altitude sectors along the northern border. The site has gained added relevance since the India-China military standoff in eastern Ladakh began in 2020.
The second phase will be held at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan, one of India’s top military training bases. Here, soldiers will take part in live-fire exercises, mechanised operations and coordinated artillery-air support drills meant to simulate conventional battlefield scenarios in desert terrain.
Integration of Apache helicopters and other advanced strike platforms are expected to enhance training in precision engagement, battlefield support and air-ground coordination. Adding the F-35B gives writers of military plans a chance to practice combined-arms manoeuvres in hard mountain and desert terrain.
Since its launch in 2004, Yudh Abhyas has evolved from a relatively modest bilateral drill into one of the most prominent military engagements between India and the US. The exercise now spans a wide range of operational scenarios from conventional warfare to counterterrorism operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, reflecting the deepening defence partnership between the two countries.