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The 22nd edition of Exercise Yudh Abhyas, the annual India-United States Army exercise, began on 9 September 2026 and runs to 28 September 2026.
For the first time in the series it is being held in a two-theatre format — a desert phase at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges near Bikaner, Rajasthan, and a high-altitude phase at Auli in Uttarakhand.
Auli lies at about 2,500 metres and roughly 95 km from the Line of Actual Control with China, making the second phase a mountain-warfare rehearsal.
About 700 personnel are taking part, 350 from each army; AH-64E Apache attack helicopters are participating in Yudh Abhyas for the first time.
The MLIDS counter-drone system is being deployed in India for the first time, alongside India's Pinaka and K9 Vajra and the US Army's HIMARS.
| Aspect | Phase 1 — Rajasthan | Phase 2 — Uttarakhand |
|---|---|---|
| Venue | Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, near Bikaner | Auli |
| Terrain | Desert plains | High-altitude mountains, about 2,500 m |
| Focus | Long-range and precision fires, mechanised manoeuvre | Mountain and high-altitude warfare, air mobility |
| Signature equipment | Pinaka, K9 Vajra, HIMARS | M777 ultra-light howitzers airlifted by Chinook |
The Mahajan Field Firing Ranges lie in the Thar desert near Bikaner in western Rajasthan and are among the Army's largest firing ranges. Auli, in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, is a high-altitude meadow used for mountain-warfare training, close to the Line of Actual Control with China.
General Awareness > Defence Exercises
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The annual bilateral army exercise between India and the United States, held alternately in the two countries; the 2026 edition is the 22nd.
High Mobility Artillery Rocket System — a wheeled US Army rocket-artillery platform.
Mobile Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System — a counter-drone system, deployed in India for the first time in this exercise.
A US Army formation designed to operate across land, air, sea, space and cyber domains with long-range precision fires.