17th Nomadic Elephant Joint Military Exercise Concludes in Mongolia

The 17th edition of the India-Mongolia bilateral military exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant’,  ended in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on June 13, 2025. The 17th Nomadic Elephant military exercise was hosted by the Mongolian Army at its capital, Ulaanbaatar, from May 31 to June 13, 2025. 

The previous 16th edition of the Nomadic Elephant exercise was held at Umroi, Meghalaya, in July 2024. 

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh attends the Closing Ceremony 

The closing ceremony of the 17th Nomadic Elephant was attended by the Indian Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.

He was accompanied by Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh, Director General Operational Logistics and Strategic Movement of the Indian Army.

Defence Secretary will also participate in the opening ceremony of the  22nd edition of the multinational exercise ‘Khaan Quest’ to be held at the same location on 14 June 2025.

Nomadic Elephant Exercise 

India and Mongolia have traditionally had good relations. In 2004, a joint military exercise named ‘Nomadic Elephant’ was started to strengthen their defence ties.

Mongolia hosted the first edition of the exercise, and since then, it has been held alternatively in India and Mongolia.

The Nomadic Elephant exercise is an annual exercise.

No exercise was held from 2020 to 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

India will host the 18th edition of the Nomadic Elephant exercise in 2026.

Participants of the Nomadic Elephant Exercise 2025

Both countries send a 45-member contingent of their Army to participate in the Nomadic Exercise.

This year, the Indian Army sent personnel of the Arunachal Scouts. 

The Mongolian Army sent a 45-member personnel from its 150 Special Forces Unit.

Aim of the 17th Nomadic Exercise 2025  

The main aim of the 17th ‘Nomadic Elephant’ exercise is to help Indian and Mongolian army personnel hone their skills in responding to terror incidents. 

They conducted joint drills to sharpen their skills in conducting joint counter-insurgency operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain.

The exercise was a platoon-level field training exercise. A field training exercise is a military training exercise that simulates war conditions in the field.

Both armies engaged in various exercises, including endurance training, reflex shooting, room intervention, small team tactics and rock craft training etc.

Cyber Warfare was incorporated in the Nomadic Elephant exercise for the first time. 

The exercise improved India and Mongolia's defence relationships and strengthened and facilitated the development of interoperability, bonhomie, and camaraderie between the two armies. 

Also Read: Indian Army arrives in Mongolia for 22nd edition of EX Khaan Quest