Exercise Yudh Abhyas

Soldiers from the US and Indian Armies participated in exercise Yudh Abhyas during 8-21 February 2021, at the Mahajan Field Firing Range (MFFR) in Rajasthan.

The tough, realistic field training, including small-unit infantry tactics, were carried out by troops of the 11th J&K Rifles and the US Army’s 2-3 Infantry Patriots Battalion, 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team. This US Army Pacific-sponsored exercise involves some 250 US and Indian army soldiers each, this annual training exercise “to enhance combined interoperability capabilities through training and cultural exchange, which foster enduring partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region though common defence objectives”, including training at the Corps-level and below; combat against conventional, unconventional and hybrid threats; humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

The command post exercise (CPX) focused on UN peacekeeping operation staff tasks in a combined military setting, while the field training exercise (FTX) involved company-strength elements from each nation exercising combined, fundamental war-fighting skills to enhance combined operational capacity. the CPX and FTX running concurrently.