Rajasthan: “YUDH ABHYAS-2024” — the 20th edition of the India-USA Joint Military Exercise, kicked off on Monday at the Foreign Training Node in Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan. This annual exercise, which alternates between the two countries, is scheduled to run from September 9 to 22.
According to a statement from the Indian government, this year’s exercise features an expanded scope and increased complexity, with a notable enhancement in troop numbers and equipment.
The Indian Army’s contingent, consisting of 600 personnel, includes a battalion from the RAJPUT Regiment along with members from various other arms and services. The U.S. contingent, also comprising around 600 troops, is represented by the 1-24 Battalion of the Alaska-based 11th Airborne Division of the U.S. Army.
The primary goal of Exercise YUDH ABHYAS is to improve the joint military capabilities of both nations in counter-terrorism operations within a sub-conventional context, as outlined in Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
The exercise will emphasize operations in a semi-desert environment and include tactical drills such as coordinated responses to terrorist activities, joint planning, and combined field training exercises designed to replicate real-world counter-terrorism scenarios.
This joint exercise aims to enhance interoperability, share best practices in tactics and procedures, and foster camaraderie between the two armies.
Additionally, it is expected to strengthen defense cooperation and further solidify the bilateral relations between India and the United States.
