The latest edition of the Indo-US military exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025 has successfully concluded in Alaska, marking another milestone in the long-standing defence cooperation between the two countries. Conducted from September 1 to 14 at Fort Wainwright and the Yukon Training Area, the exercise tested the endurance and combat readiness of troops under extreme sub-arctic conditions.
Around 900 personnel participated in the drills, with India fielding soldiers from the Madras Regiment and the United States deploying troops from its 11th Airborne Division. The joint manoeuvres highlighted the ability of both forces to operate seamlessly in harsh terrain while undertaking brigade-level planning, tactical coordination, and live combat simulations.
Highlights of the Exercise
- Integrated Command Post Operations: Commanders and staff officers from both nations planned and executed multi-domain operations at the brigade and battalion levels.
- Field Training in Harsh Conditions: Troops conducted reconnaissance, survival drills, and tactical movement across rugged snow-bound terrain.
- Specialised Modules: Training included sniper operations, counter-IED handling, obstacle clearance, and demolition exercises, aimed at enhancing soldier-level interoperability.
- Live Fire Exercises: Both sides executed combined firing drills, mortar support, and communication exercises to fine-tune battlefield coordination.
Growing Importance of Yudh Abhyas
First held in 2002, Yudh Abhyas has grown from a limited peacekeeping drill to one of the most comprehensive bilateral exercises India conducts with any partner nation. By alternating locations annually – one year in India and the next in the US – the exercise exposes soldiers to vastly different operational environments, from deserts and mountains to snow-covered ranges.
Defence officials from both sides emphasized that Yudh Abhyas 2025 is not just a military drill, but a strategic signal of the strengthening Indo-US partnership. With global security challenges rising in scale and complexity, such exercises play a vital role in enhancing preparedness, trust, and coordination between two of the world’s largest democracies.
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