Jaipur: US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor visited the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan on September 24 to review the ongoing Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026, praising the joint training by Indian and US Army personnel as a reflection of the two countries’ defence partnership. Gor said he was impressed to see the forces training together, highlighting trust, readiness and interoperability.
“Impressive to see U.S. and Indian forces training together at Mahajan Field Firing Range,” Gor wrote on X, adding that the exercise reflected the strength of the bilateral defence partnership and a shared purpose. Earlier, he described Yudh Abhyas as India’s largest bilateral defence exercise with any country and said he looked forward to seeing the troops train side by side.
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The 22nd edition of the annual exercise opened on September 15 at the Auli Foreign Training Node in Uttarakhand and is being conducted simultaneously at Auli and the Mahajan Field Firing Range. Around 600 personnel from each country are taking part. The exercise is scheduled to conclude on September 28.
The two armies are conducting integrated training across mountainous and desert terrain, with activities spanning small-arms firing, artillery engagements, long-range weapon systems and attack helicopter operations. The Indian Army said the drills involve coordinated manoeuvres, synchronised battle procedures and combined-arms employment to improve operational coordination across different battlefield environments.
Technology integration is also a key focus. According to the Ministry of Defence, the training includes the use of drones and autonomous systems for surveillance and reconnaissance, demonstrations of contemporary weapon systems, and exchanges between subject-matter experts on emerging technologies and multi-domain warfare.
The exercise is designed to strengthen the joint operational capability of both armies, particularly for the employment of Integrated Battle Groups in mountainous and semi-mountainous terrain, while also enabling the forces to share tactics, techniques and procedures. The simultaneous desert training in Rajasthan adds a distinct environment for practising coordinated operations and battlefield procedures.
Gor’s visit comes as India and the United States continue to expand military-to-military engagement through exercises and operational exchanges. Yudh Abhyas provides both forces a practical setting to develop interoperability and exchange experience in combined operations, including the use of modern equipment and unmanned capabilities.
The ongoing exercise thus combines field-level combat training, technology familiarisation and defence diplomacy, with both armies operating across contrasting terrain and sharing approaches to evolving battlefield requirements.
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