Auli, Sept 2026 : Indian and US Army troops on Thursday conducted building-clearance and room-intervention drills during the ongoing Yudh Abhyas 2026 exercise in Auli, Uttarakhand, simulating close-quarter counter-terrorism operations.
The drills involved assault teams using drones, robotic dogs, trained canines and sniper units to demonstrate coordinated operations in built-up and urban environments. The exercise focused on integrating specialised personnel with advanced technologies during complex tactical missions.
“The training reinforced professional exchanges, tactical understanding and interoperability between the two Armies,” the Indian Army said in a statement.
The 22nd edition of Yudh Abhyas began on Tuesday at Auli and the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan. Around 1,200 personnel, including 600 soldiers each from India and the US, are participating in the exercise.
The annual bilateral exercise is aimed at enhancing interoperability, joint planning and coordinated execution between the two armies across different terrains and operational settings. It provides troops with opportunities to exchange tactical practices and develop capabilities for joint missions.
A key focus of this year's exercise is the employment of Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) and their operations in mountainous and semi-mountainous terrain.
The Indian Army has been operationalising its first batch of five IBGs and a Fire Support Group under the 17 Mountain Strike Corps this year. The formations are designed to enable faster and more integrated military operations, with greater flexibility in responding to evolving battlefield requirements.
The urban warfare drills at Auli showcased the importance of coordinated action in confined and complex environments, where troops may need to combine surveillance, precision fire, specialised assault teams and canine support.
Yudh Abhyas forms part of the broader defence cooperation between India and the United States. The exercise allows personnel from both countries to train together, exchange operational experiences and strengthen their ability to function jointly in diverse combat scenarios.
The ongoing drills are also intended to improve mutual understanding between the two forces while enhancing their readiness for operations involving challenging terrain and evolving tactical threats.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
