Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026: India and US Armies Begin 22nd Edition

The Indian Army and the United States Army kicked off the 22nd edition of Exercise Yudh Abhyas on September 9, 2026, running through September 28. This year's edition is special because, for the first time, it's being held across two very different terrains in a single exercise.

22nd India-US Yudh Abhyas Begins in Two-Theatre Format

Unlike previous editions, this year's exercise is split across two locations. It starts at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges near Bikaner, Rajasthan, and then moves to Auli in Uttarakhand, located close to the Line of Actual Control with China. This two-phase format lets soldiers train in completely different conditions, moving from open desert terrain with long-range firepower to high-altitude mountain warfare with its unique logistical challenges.

22nd Edition of Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026: Training Features

1. During the Bikaner phase, training focuses heavily on long-range and precision fires.
2. At Auli, the emphasis shifts to high-altitude warfare, air mobility, infantry movement, and logistics in mountainous terrain, similar to conditions along the Ladakh border. 
3. The exercise includes a command post exercise, a field training exercise, and wraps up with a combined live-fire demonstration showing off the digital integration of Indian and American fire systems. 
4. A major highlight this year is counter-drone operations, covering everything from detecting small drones to jamming, spoofing, and intercepting them.

Equipment and Units Involved in 22nd India-US Yudh Abhyas 2026

India is expected to bring Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers, K9 Vajra self-propelled howitzers, and M777 ultra-light howitzers for the mountain phase. The US side is bringing back its HIMARS rocket system, along with AH-64E Apache attack helicopters armed with Hellfire missiles and rockets. Arctic-trained soldiers from the US Army's 11th Airborne Division, based in Alaska, are taking part alongside the 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force, which brings advanced long-range precision fires and command systems. This edition also marks the first-ever deployment of the MLIDS counter-drone system to India.

Importance of India-US Defence Partnership

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor and Lieutenant General Joel Vowell are attending key training events, reflecting how much importance both nations place on this partnership. Yudh Abhyas began back in 2004 as a small peacekeeping-focused exercise and has since grown into a major bilateral drill covering mountain warfare, electronic warfare, and unmanned systems. Today, India and the US conduct more military exercises together than with any other partner, spanning army, navy, and air force domains through drills like Malabar, Tiger Triumph, and Cope India.