The 22nd edition of Exercise Yudh Abhyas, the flagship annual India–US Joint Military Exercise, commenced on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, with 600 personnel from both armies training simultaneously at two locations — Auli, Uttarakhand, and the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan. The exercise is designed to sharpen joint military capability across mountainous and semi-desert terrain, with a sharp focus on infantry-dominated operations.

Key Objectives of This Year's Exercise

According to the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI), which announced the commencement on X, the exercise aims to enhance the employment of Integrated Battle Groups in varied terrain conditions. It will also strengthen interoperability through exchange of operational best practices, joint planning, and coordinated execution between the two armies.

Technology infusion is a headline theme in the 2026 edition. Training will cover the employment of drones and autonomous systems for surveillance and reconnaissance, alongside exchange of expertise on emerging technologies and multi-domain operations. The Indian Army framed this as aligned to its 'JAI se VIJAY' transformation vision — a broader institutional shift toward innovation-led operational effectiveness.

What the Indian Army Said

'The integration of emerging technologies and autonomous systems underscores the Indian Army's focus on innovation and transformation, aligned to the vision of JAI se VIJAY, towards enhanced operational effectiveness. The exercise will further enhance the ability of both armies to undertake coordinated military operations across varied terrain and operational environments,' the Indian Army stated.

How This Edition Compares to Previous Ones

The 21st edition of Exercise Yudh Abhyas was held in September 2025 at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. The Indian Army contingent of 450 personnel, led by a battalion of the Madras Regiment, trained alongside US soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment ('Bobcats'), part of the 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Arctic Wolves), 11th Airborne Division. That edition was described as one of the largest bilateral military exercises for the Indian Army in terms of troops mobilised.

Notably, the 2026 edition has been scaled to two simultaneous venues spanning high-altitude and semi-desert environments — a structural expansion that underscores the growing ambition of India–US defence cooperation. Conducting drills concurrently in Uttarakhand and Rajasthan also allows both armies to stress-test their interoperability across sharply contrasting operational theatres in a single exercise cycle.

A Two-Decade Journey of Deepening Military Ties

Exercise Yudh Abhyas was first conducted in 2002 as a relatively modest platoon-level drill. Over the past two decades, it has grown substantially in scope, participant strength, and terrain diversity. Past editions have encompassed high-altitude warfare at Auli and Chaubattia, desert manoeuvres in Rajasthan, and cold-environment training at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Alaska. The exercise is widely seen as a barometer of India–US defence engagement, which has deepened considerably under successive bilateral frameworks including the Major Defence Partner designation and the iCET technology initiative.

What Happens Next

The exercise is expected to conclude over the coming weeks, with the two armies expected to exchange operational assessments and best practices at the end of the training cycle. The growing role of autonomous systems and drone warfare doctrine in this edition signals the direction India and the United States intend to take their military collaboration ahead of future joint operations planning.