Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026 strengthens India-U.S. defense partnership
U.S. Army Pacific
Indian Army and United States Army Soldiers, supported by drones, a robotic dog, canines and snipers, surrounded a vacant house in the Himalayas near Auli, India, during Yudh Abhyas 2026, a two-week exercise.
The combined force blew open the building’s exterior door. The mechanized dog entered first, followed by Soldiers, who quickly gained control of the simulated hideout, the Times of India newspaper reported.
The counterterrorism drill unfolded during the annual exercise’s 22nd iteration in September. It replicated close-quarter scenarios and showcased the coordination of specialized personnel and technology.
Yudh Abhyas integrates uncrewed and autonomous systems with conventional assets, focusing on readiness, interoperability and cooperation. About 600 Indian Soldiers and 600 U.S. personnel, including from the 11th Airborne Division, conducted brigade-level command post and field training drills, mountain warfare and cold-weather operations, and counter-uncrewed aircraft system training. Live-fire exercises featured the U.S.-developed High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and Stinger missile, among other weaponry.
The training establishes common procedures applicable in complex scenarios, with exercise leaders assessing the forces’ ability to synchronize combined-arms operations and rapid land-power projection.
“Yudh Abhyas 2026 provides our Soldiers an opportunity to enhance bilateral readiness, cooperation and interoperability,” said U.S. Army Col. Ben Jackman, commander of the 11th Airborne Division’s 1st Mobile Brigade Combat Team. “By training alongside the Indian Army, we are strengthening our mutual trust and building combat credibility.”
Leaders stressed the importance of theater security cooperation and realistic combat readiness.
“Exercise Yudh Abhyas gives us a platform to exchange tactics, techniques and procedures across the full spectrum of multidomain operations, from precision fires at Mahajan [Field Firing Range] to mountain warfare here in Auli,” said Indian Army Maj. Gen. Amaresh Gunjan, the 14th Infantry Division’s general commander. “It strengthens the bond between our armies and prepares us to prevail together in any environment.”
The exercise strengthens the India-U.S. Major Defense Partnership, established in 2016 and enhanced in October 2025. Yudh Abhyas is part of the U.S. Army Pacific’s Operation Pathways, which comprises multinational exercises, deployments and training to enhance interoperability and ensure seamless coordination among Indo-Pacific defense partners.
“When we conclude this [Yudh Abhyas] training, our Soldiers will stand side by side as a more lethal, coordinated and ready force,” Jackman said.
