Contingents of the Indian Army and the US Army conducted joint live-fire drills at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district on Tuesday as part of the ongoing Yudh Abhyas 2026 exercise.
The joint training focused on strengthening interoperability and enhancing mutual understanding of each other’s tactics, techniques and procedures.
The day’s key activity was a major artillery firing exercise involving M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers, indigenous Dhanush guns and Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers.
The exercise also featured L70 air defence guns and the Mobile Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System (M-LIDS), creating a layered response capability against simulated threats, including drones.
Observation post detachments from both armies trained together during the firing sequence. Troops practised target identification, relaying coordinates, engagement procedures, issuing fire commands and carrying out post-firing corrections.
The integrated drills covered the complete battlefield fire-support process, from detection and target identification to engagement and post-firing assessment.
The Indian Army said the joint training provides an opportunity to exchange operational best practices and improve coordination, enabling both forces to operate together across different environments.
The exercise emphasised precision, rapid response and seamless coordination under realistic operational conditions.
This phase follows earlier artillery activity at the same range, where M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers were fired two days earlier.
The 22nd edition of the annual India-US bilateral exercise, Yudh Abhyas 2026, commenced on September 15 and is being conducted simultaneously at the Auli Foreign Training Node in Uttarakhand and the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.
Around 600 personnel from each side are participating in the exercise, which focuses on Integrated Battle Groups, mountain and semi-mountainous operations, drones, autonomous systems and long-range precision fires.
As part of a professional exchange, four Indian Army military dogs — Rice, Victor, Jack (also referred to as Zac in some reports) and Rowdy — also demonstrated their specialised skills.
The canines participated in drills involving entry into suspected hideouts and rappelling, giving US soldiers an opportunity to observe their agility, training and ability to support troops in challenging tactical situations.
The exercise reflects the continuing focus on enhancing operational coordination and defence cooperation between the Indian and US armies.
-IANS
