Chandigarh, February 8
India-US joint training exercise Yudh Abhyas commenced at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in north-western Rajasthan on Monday.
The 14-day drill is focused on joint training in a counter insurgency environment under the United Nations mandate, according to an official statement.
On February 6, the US Army contingent comprising of a brigade headquarters and a battalion group of the 2nd Battalion, the 3rd Infantry Regiment of 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, comprising of 270 personnel, had landed at Suratgarh.
During the opening ceremony, Brig Mukesh Bhanwala, Commander 170 Infantry Brigade, welcomed the US contingent. He impressed upon both the contingents to achieve optimum cohesion and interoperability to achieve the military objectives of the exercise.
He also stressed upon importance of free exchange of ideas, concepts and best practices between the troops and the necessity to learn from each other’s operational experiences for enhancing situational awareness.
A number of aerial platforms including newly inducted indigenous Advance Light Helicopter, weapon systems integrated Rudra, MI-17, Chinooks, Stryker Vehicles of the US Army and BMP-II Mechanised Infantry Combat Vehicles of Indian Army, will be utilised in the exercise.
The exercise will enable both the contingents to benefit from each other’s rich experience in counter insurgency operations. Besides counter insurgency operations, exchange of experiences in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief will also be a part of the exercise.
