India, US Begin Yudh Abhyas 2026 With 1,200 Troops In Uttarakhand, Focus On High-Altitude Warfare

India and the United States have begun the 22nd edition of their joint military exercise, Yudh Abhyas 2026, in Uttarakhand’s Auli. Around 1,200 troops from both countries are taking part in the two-week exercise, which focuses on high-altitude operations and multidomain warfare. The drills include mountain warfare, cold-weather operations, field training, expert discussions and a brigade-level command post exercise. Troops will also conduct counter-drone training, while live-fire exercises involving HIMARS, Stinger systems and M-LIDS are planned at the Mahajan Field Firing Range. The training will gradually move from academic discussions and command-post exercises to tactical and live-fire activities. The exercise also includes discussions on space, cyber and multidomain operations. Yudh Abhyas 2026 is scheduled to conclude on September 28.