Rajasthan: The 20th edition of the India-USA Joint Military Exercise, YUDH ABHYAS 2024, commenced today at the Foreign Training Node in Rajasthan’s Mahajan Field Firing Ranges. Scheduled to take place from September 9 to 22, 2024, this annual exercise, first held in 2004, alternates between India and the USA.
This year’s exercise marks a significant expansion in terms of both troop strength and the complexity of military operations. The Indian Army contingent, represented by 600 personnel from a battalion of the RAJPUT Regiment along with personnel from other arms and services, will engage in the exercise alongside a similar-sized US contingent. The US troops belong to the 1-24 Battalion of the Alaska-based 11th Airborne Division.
The primary objective of YUDH ABHYAS 2024 is to enhance the joint military capabilities of both nations to conduct counter-terrorism operations in sub-conventional scenarios under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The focus of this year’s exercise will be on tactical operations in semi-desert environments.
The training drills will include joint responses to terrorist actions, collaborative planning, and combined field exercises that simulate real-world counter-terrorism missions. By sharing best practices and learning from each other’s tactics, techniques, and procedures, the exercise aims to strengthen the interoperability, camaraderie, and cooperation between the two armies.
YUDH ABHYAS 2024 will also bolster defence cooperation, further enhancing the strategic bilateral relations between India and the United States, two key allies in the region.