Huge India-US military exercise 'Yudh Abhyas' to kick off in Uttarakhand

Under the aegis of Headquarter Central Command, the venture is a series of one of the longest running joint military training between India and US.

Lucknow: As part of the ongoing Indo-US defence cooperation, a joint military training 'Exercise Yudh Abhyas-2016' would be conducted in the foothills of Himalayas at Chaubattia in Uttarakhand from September 14 to 27.

Under the aegis of Headquarter Central Command, the venture is a series of one of the longest-running joint military training and a major ongoing bilateral defence cooperation endeavours between India and US, an official release issued here said.

This will be the 12th edition of the exercise hosted alternately by both countries.

The Exercise Yudh Abhyas-2016 will simulate a scenario where both nations are working together in counter insurgency and counter terrorism environment in mountainous terrain under UN charter, the statement said.

It will witness participation of about 225 personnel of the US Army and similar strength of Congo Brigade of the Indian Army.

Its curriculum is progressively planned where the participants are initially made to get familiar with each other's organisational structure, weapons, equipment and tactical drills, it said, adding subsequently, the training advances to joint tactical exercises wherein the battle drills of both the armies are coherently unleashed.

The training will culminate with a final validation exercise in which troops of both countries will jointly carry out an operation against terrorists in a fictitious but realistic setting, the release mentions.

The exercise will witness a Brigade Headquarter based Command Post Exercise, an Infantry company carrying out Field Training Exercise and discussions on issues of mutual interest by experts of both countries.

Both armies have a vast experience in active counter-insurgency/counter-terrorism operations and sharing each other's tactics and drills in such diverse environment is of immense value, it said.

The joint venture is a great step for the armies of the two democratic countries to train together and gain together from each other's rich operational experiences. The latest exercise will help further build interoperability between the forces of both the nations, the statement added.