New Delhi: The 18th edition of Indo – US joint training exercise “Yudh Abhyas 22” (Nov 16 – Dec 2, 2022) will commence today at Auli, Uttarakhand. Located over 9500 feet, Auli for the first time will be holding the exercise.
The 15 day long joint military training exercise Yudh Abhyas in Auli, 100 km away from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) gains significance amidst the growing Chinese posturing. It will help both countries to encounter China by endorsing each other and will focus on high altitude, extremely cold climate warfare. The aim of this drill between the armies of both countries is to exchange best practices, techniques, tactics and procedures. The previous edition of this joint exercise was conducted in October 2021 at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska (USA). The exercise between the armies of both countries takes place alternatively in the US and India.
The Additional Directorate General of Public Information, Indian Army tweeted, “The 18th Edition of India-US joint training exercise #YudhAbhyas is scheduled to be conducted at #Auli. The joint exercise will focus on the employment of an Infantry Battalion Group in Peace Keeping & Disaster Relief operations under the #UN Mandate.”
Indian Army soldiers from the ASSAM Regiment will be participating in the exercise along with US Army soldiers of 2nd Brigade of the 11th Airborne Division. The training schedule focuses on employment of an integrated battle group under Chapter VII of the UN Mandate. The schedule will include all operations related to peacekeeping and peace enforcement. The troops from both nations will work together to achieve common objectives. While the Indian army will be displaying tactics and strategies that can be used in mountain warfare and in high-altitude terrains, the US side is set to showcase its technological prowess that can be used in the mountainous terrain.
A new Foreign Training Node (FTN) has been built at a high altitude in Uttarakhand’s Auli. This is where wargames with foreign friendly nations will be carried out. The brainchild of Central Army Commander Lt Gen Yogendra Dimri, this FTN has all facilities and can house around 350 foreign troops at a time. The US soldiers will be the first to use this facility.
According to the Indian Army, the Yudh Abhyas exercise will also involve exchanges and practices on a wide range of combat skills, information operations, combat engineering, and employment of UAS/Counter UAS techniques. This includes validation of operational logistics, mountain warfare skills, casualty evacuation, validation of integrated battle groups, force multipliers, establishment and functioning of surveillance grids, and combat medical aid in adverse terrain and climatic conditions. The two sides will work together to achieve common objectives as well as focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations (HADR) and the troops will also practice launching swift and coordinated relief efforts in case of a natural calamity.
A Command Post Exercise and Expert Academic Discussions (EAD) on carefully selected topics will be carried out in order to derive full benefit from the professional skills & experiences of both the armies, said the Indian Army release. The scope of the Field Training Exercise includes validation of integrated battle groups, force multipliers, establishment and functioning of surveillance grids, validation of operational logistics, mountain warfare skills, casualty evacuation and combat medical aid in adverse terrain and climatic conditions.
The exercise will involve exchanges and practices on a wide spectrum of combat skills including combat engineering, employment of UAS/Counter UAS techniques and information operations and will facilitate both Armies to share their wide experiences, skills and enhance their techniques through information exchange.
