Massive India-US joint military drill ‘Yudh Abhyas’ kick-starts today
08 Feb 2021 11:37:16
New Delhi, Feb 8: The India-US joint military exercise "Yudh Abhyas 20" commenced today in Mahajan Field Firing Range of Bikaner district in Rajasthan. This is the 16th edition of the annual bilateral joint exercise of both armies.
On Sunday, a contingent of 270 American soldiers reached Rajasthan to take part in a fortnight-long joint military exercise with the Indian Army, 'Yudh Abhyas 20’, at the state’s Mahajan field firing range. The contingent reached Suratgarh in a special aircraft to take part in the exercise under the military exchange program.
Here are the nine points you should know about-
1. The Yudh Abhyas military exercise will begin from February 8 and conclude on February 21.
2. Approximately 250 Indian soldiers who will take part in the Yudh Abhyas belong to the 11th Battalion of Sapt Shakti Command of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles.
3. The American soldiers taking part in the exercise are from the US army’s 2, Infantry Battalions, 3, Infantry Regiments and 1-2 Striker Brigade Combat Team.
4. The Defence Ministry stated, "the training exercise enhances “combined interoperability capabilities through training and cultural exchange, which foster enduring partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region through common defence objectives. The exercise provides excellent opportunities for professional and cultural exchanges that strengthen partnership through shared learning and training.”
5. Further, it added, "The exercise will commence with expert academic exchanges and professional development workshops that focus on training at the corps-level and below; combat against conventional, unconventional, and hybrid threats; humanitarian assistance and disaster relief."
6. Both the armies will share their war-related techniques, skills and experience with each other during this exercise. The exercise is one of the largest military training and defense cooperation efforts between India and the United States.
7. The command post exercise (CPX) will focus on the UN peacekeeping operation staff tasks in a combined military setting.
8. The field training exercise (FTX) will involve company-strength elements from each nation exercising combined, fundamental war-fighting skills to enhance combined operational capacity.
9. The drill comes nearly two-and-a-half months after India carried out the Malabar naval exercise with the US, Japan and Australia, which are the member nations of the Quadrilateral (Quad) countries.
This Yudh Abhyas exercise is another step in the growing military cooperation between the two countries, which shows the growth in Indo-US relations. It is also a sign that both India and the US understand the threat of terrorism and are standing shoulder to shoulder in combating the same.
Started in 2004, Yudh Abhyas exercise is one of the largest running military training and defense cooperation endeavors between India and the US. The previous version of the joint exercise was held in Seattle in the United States.
