NEW DELHI: India and the US on Monday kicked off their largest-ever ground combat exercise called `Yudh Abhyas’ at the foreign training node in the Mahajan field firing ranges of Rajasthan, with the aim to further enhance military interoperability and hone their combat skills. The 20 th edition of the Yudh Abhyas exercise “marks a significant increase in the scope and complexity of the joint exercise in terms of troop strength and equipment”, an Army officer said. India has deployed 600 soldiers from the Rajput Regiment, along with some personnel from other arms and services, for the 21-day exercise.
The US contingent, in turn, has around 600 troops of 1-24 Battalion of the Alaska based 11th Airborne Division of the US Army. “The exercise will enhance joint military capability of both sides to undertake counter-terrorism operations in a sub-conventional scenario under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. The exercise will focus on operations in the semi-desert environment,” the officer said.
Tactical drills to be rehearsed during the exercise include the joint response to a terrorist action, planning and combined field training exercises that simulate realistic counter-terrorism missions. “It will enable both sides to share best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures of conducting joint operations. It will facilitate interoperability, bonhomie and camaraderie between the two armies,” he added.
India and the US have been steadily cranking up the scope, strengt.