Launch of Joint India-US Military Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2024 with Enhanced Counterterrorism Capabilities.

On September 9, 2024, India and the United States officially began their annual joint military exercise, "Yudh Abhyas 2024," at the Foreign Training Node in the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, located in Rajasthan, India. This exercise, which will run until September 22, marks the 20th edition of military cooperation that began in 2004 and alternates between the two countries each year.
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Key tactical components include joint responses to simulated terrorist incidents, collaborative planning, and field exercises replicating real-world counterterrorism scenarios (Picture source: Indian MoD)

This year's edition features a significant expansion in both personnel and advanced equipment. The Indian contingent, comprising 600 soldiers from the Rajput Regiment and other supporting units, is joined by a similarly sized U.S. contingent from the 1-24 Battalion of the 11th Airborne Division, based in Alaska.

The primary objective of this joint exercise is to strengthen the counterterrorism capabilities of both nations, especially in unconventional warfare settings, in accordance with Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The exercise is focused on operations in a semi-desert environment, a setting ideal for refining rapid-response tactics.

Key tactical components include joint responses to simulated terrorist incidents, collaborative planning, and field exercises replicating real-world counterterrorism scenarios. Both countries will have the opportunity to exchange best practices in joint operations, enhancing interoperability, cooperation, and camaraderie between their respective forces.

This year's "Yudh Abhyas" exercise is part of a broader set of recent military collaborations between the two nations. In July 2024, Indian warships participated in an exercise with the U.S. aircraft carrier strike group Theodore Roosevelt in the Indian Ocean. Additionally, the combined armed forces of India and the United States conducted the "Tiger Triumph 2024" exercise, further emphasizing the growing importance of bilateral defense relations.

India practices a strategy of multi-alignment, which allows the country to diversify its alliances while maintaining autonomy in decision-making. In its defense relationship with the United States, this multi-alignment approach has enabled increased cooperation without compromising its ties with other global powers like Russia and China.

For example, India and the United States collaborate on several key defense projects, such as the COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) signed in 2018, which allows for the secure exchange of sensitive communication technologies and equipment.

Additionally, the two nations collaborate within the framework of the Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue), alongside Japan and Australia, reinforcing their strategic presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

In terms of military acquisitions, India has purchased U.S.-made systems, including Apache AH-64E and Chinook CH-47F helicopters, as well as C-130J Super Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft. The annual joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas, along with the Malabar naval exercise, underscores the deepening defense relations between the two countries, aiming to strengthen interoperability in counterterrorism and maritime security contexts.