NOMADIC ELEPHANT 2026: 18th India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise Begins

The 18th edition of the India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT has started at the Foreign Training Node, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. It is an annual platoon-level exercise held by turns in India and Mongolia. The last edition was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in May-June 2025.

NOMADIC ELEPHANT Exercise: 21 September to 03 October 2026

This year's exercise runs from 21 September to 3 October 2026. The Indian Army and the Mongolian Armed Forces are taking part with 45 soldiers each.

The main goal is to build the joint ability of both armies to carry out Counter-Insurgency Operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain, under the United Nations Mandate. This means the training is designed in line with UN guidelines for peacekeeping-style operations, since both countries take part in UN missions.

India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise: Tactical Operations

The training will focus on tactical-level operations, that is, small-unit combat actions carried out at the ground level. Soldiers from both sides will exchange best practices, sharpen their operational drills, and improve interoperability, meaning their ability to work smoothly together as one force.

The training curriculum includes:

1. Cordon and Search Operations
2. Room Intervention Drills
3. Special Heliborne Operations (operations using helicopters to insert troops)
4. Cyber Security Training
5. Use of drones and counter-drone systems

Through these drills, troops from both nations will train together in realistic conditions and build their ability to conduct joint operations.

Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT 2026 is expected to further strengthen defence cooperation between India and Mongolia and reinforce the friendship and trust between the two countries.