Yudh Abhyas 2021

Recently, the 16^th edition of ‘Yudh Abhyas’, India and US joint military exercise has completed in Rajasthan which was held from 8^th February to 21^st February 2021. The drill has come days after the air forces of India and France held a five-day joint exercise held in Rajasthan in Jan. 2021.

The bilateral training exercise took place at the Foreign Training Node at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges. The exercise between the two countries was conducted despite the pandemic, which reflects the strength of bilateral relations and even conveys a geo-strategic message to the environment.

About 250 Indian army soldiers and 270 US Army soldiers participated in the exercise. Both countries armies had shared their war-related skills, techniques, and experience with each other during this particular exercise.

• Representation from the Indian Army side: The Indian Army in ‘Yudh Abhyas’ was represented by the 11^t battalion of Jammu & Kashmir Rifles, who are part of the South Western Command.

• Representation from the US Army side: The US Army delegation was represented by the 2^nd battalion troops, 3^rd Infantry Regiment of 1 to 2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, along with that of the respective brigade headquarters.

About Exercise Yudh Abhyas

• Yudh Abhyas is one of the largest joint running military training & defence corporation endeavours between India & the US.
• The Yudh Abhyas exercise is hosted alternately by the two countries since the year 2004.
• The training & exercises in the Yudh Abhyas exercise occur at the Battalion level.
• The joint planning of exercise takes place at the Brigade level.
• The organisation structure & battle procedures are learnt by the troops of both countries armies in Yudh Abhyas.

Aim of Yudh Abhyas

• The exercise targets to mobilise cooperation in defence in order to meet the unforeseen security contingency of the future around the globe. Also to enhance cooperation & interoperability among the two armies. It even focuses on counter-terrorism operations under the UNs mandate.
• The sights which are visible in the Yudh Abhyas exercise are Military Training, Building of Joint Operational Skills, Cultural Exchanges, Development of friendships, and Exchange of knowledge.
• The Yudh Abhyas exercise begins off at platoon exchange level.
• The Yudh Abhyas exercise’s vision is to promote peacekeeping. Also, military training comes helpful during foreign disaster relief operations – humanitarian & disaster relief. The Yudh Abhyas exercise will enhance the level of defence cooperation among both armies. It even fosters bilateral relations among both nations and reiterates India’s critical role as a key partner in the Indo-Pacific region.

Significance of Yudh Abhyas 2021

• The Yudh Abhyas 2021 provides excellent opportunities for professional & cultural exchanges which strengthen partnership through shared learning & training. The training commences with expert academic exchanges and also professional development workshops which focus on training at the corps-level and below; unconventional, and hybrid threats; combat against conventional, humanitarian assistance & disaster relief.
• The CPX (Command Post Exercise) focused on the United Nations peacekeeping operation staff tasks in a combined military setting. An FTX (Field Training Exercise) involved company-strength elements from each country exercising combined, fundamental war-fighting skills in order to enhance combined operational capacity.

Some other Exercises among India & US

• Exercise Tiger Triumph: This exercise is a tri-service military exercise between India & the US.
• Exercise Vajra Prahar: This exercise is a Special Forces joint military training exercise. The exercise is conducted alternately in India & the US since the year 2010.
• Exercise Cope India: This exercise is a series of bilateral Air Force exercises between India & the US
• Exercise Malabar: This exercise is a multilateral naval exercise that includes simulated war games & combat maneuvers. It was started in the year 1992 as a bilateral exercise between the Indian & US navies. Japan joined in the year 2015. In the year 2020, the Australian Navy has participated in the exercise for the first time ever since 2007.

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