Context:
Recently, the 20th edition of the India-USA Joint Military Exercise YUDH ABHYAS-2024 began at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan.
Relevance:
GS II: Security Challenges
Dimensions of the Article:
- About Exercise Yudh Abhyas
About Exercise Yudh Abhyas:
Exercise Yudh Abhyas is an annual military exercise conducted jointly by the Indian Army and the United States Army.
Here are key details about the exercise:
Joint Military Exercise:
- Exercise Yudh Abhyas is a collaborative military training exercise that brings together the Indian Army and the United States Army.
Indian Army Contingent:
- The exercise features the participation of an Indian Army contingent comprising approximately 350 personnel.
Lead Battalion Affiliation:
- The lead battalion representing the Indian side in the exercise is affiliated with the MARATHA Light Infantry Regiment.
Tactical Drills and Interoperability:
- During the exercise, both armies engage in a series of tactical drills aimed at enhancing their interoperability in conducting United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations.
Theme and Scope:
- The theme of the exercise for a particular edition may vary. In this instance, the theme is ‘Employment of an Integrated Battle Group in Mountain/ Extreme Climatic Conditions‘ under Chapter VII of the United Nations mandate.
- The scope of the Field Training Exercise includes validation of Integrated Battle Groups against hostile forces at the Brigade level, Integrated Surveillance Grid at the Brigade/ Battalion level, and the employment of Heliborne/ Airborne elements and Force Multipliers, among other aspects.
Combat Skills and Best Practices:
- The exercise facilitates the exchange of views and best practices in various combat skills, including combat engineering, obstruction clearance, mine and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) warfare.
Some of these exercises include Vajra Prahar (Army), MALABAR (Navy, Multilateral), Cope India (Air Force), and Red Flag (Air Force, Multilateral).
