Joint exercise at Rajasthan’s Mahajan Field Firing Range focuses on artillery coordination, drone defence, precision fires and battlefield interoperability
New Delhi, September 2026 : Indian and US Army contingents conducted joint training across multiple operational platforms and battlefield scenarios on Tuesday as part of the ongoing Exercise “Yudh Abhyas 2026”, strengthening interoperability and enabling troops from both sides to gain a deeper understanding of each other’s tactics, techniques and procedures.
The day’s key activity was a major joint firing exercise at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district, where artillery units from the two armies conducted live-fire drills using a combination of US and Indian weapon systems.
The exercise featured M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers, indigenous Dhanush guns and Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers. L70 air defence guns and the Mobile Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System (M-LIDS) were also deployed to create a layered response against simulated battlefield threats, including drones.
Observation post detachments from both armies trained together throughout the firing sequence. Soldiers practised identifying targets, transmitting precise coordinates, executing engagement procedures, issuing fire commands and conducting post-firing corrections.
The integrated drills covered the complete battlefield fire-support cycle, from target detection and identification to engagement and assessment. The training provided personnel from both armies with practical exposure to each other’s communication procedures, fire-control systems and operational methods.
According to the Indian Army, such integrated training enables the two forces to exchange operational best practices while improving coordination and their ability to function together in diverse operational environments. The drills placed particular emphasis on precision, rapid response and seamless coordination under realistic combat conditions.
The latest firing activity builds on earlier artillery training conducted at the same range, where M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers were fired two days earlier.
The 22nd edition of the annual India-US bilateral military exercise began on September 15 and is being conducted simultaneously at the Auli Foreign Training Node in Uttarakhand and the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.
Around 600 personnel from each country are participating in the exercise. The training programme focuses on Integrated Battle Groups, mountain and semi-mountainous operations, unmanned aerial systems, autonomous technologies and long-range precision fires.
The exercise also featured a professional exchange involving four Indian Army military dogs — Rice, Victor, Jack, also referred to as Zac in some reports, and Rowdy. The specially trained canines demonstrated their capabilities during drills involving entry into suspected hideouts and rappelling operations.
The demonstrations gave US personnel an opportunity to observe the agility, discipline and specialised training of the Indian Army’s military dogs, as well as their role in supporting troops during challenging tactical operations.
Yudh Abhyas 2026 continues to provide a platform for personnel of the two armies to train in realistic conditions while improving communication, coordination and mutual understanding. The Indian Army described the broader objective of the exercise through the message: “Training Together. Learning Together. Operating Better Together.”
The ongoing drills underscore the focus on strengthening operational readiness and enhancing the ability of Indian and US forces to coordinate effectively across a range of battlefield situations.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
