After two weeks of intensive training, the 21st edition of Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025, the annual bilateral Army-to-Army exercise between India and the United States, concluded on September 14 at Fort Wainwright and the Yukon Training Area in Alaska.
According to the Indian Embassy, the exercise, held from September 1 to 14, brought together nearly 450 personnel of the Indian Army, led by a battalion of the Madras Regiment, alongside soldiers of the U.S. Army’s 11th Airborne Division.
The exercise included a command post segment where Indian and American officers worked jointly on operational planning, command and control, and coordination across brigade and battalion levels. This was followed by field training in demanding sub-arctic terrain, featuring tactical maneuvers, sniper and reconnaissance drills, counter-IED operations, and demolition exercises. These engagements enabled troops to align procedures and enhance interoperability under realistic combat conditions.
Live-fire exercises formed a major highlight, with artillery units from both sides executing joint firing missions, complemented by mortar live-fire drills. These activities tested coordination in fire control and communication, offering valuable lessons in precision targeting and adaptability.
Parallel training sessions on combat medical preparedness were conducted at the Medical Simulation Training Center, enhancing the ability of both armies to deliver integrated medical support in extreme environments, stated the Embassy.
“In the final phase, combined tactical operations and validation drills were executed in adverse weather conditions. Infantry units, artillery, aviation, electronic warfare and counter-drone systems were employed under joint command and control,” it added. “This phase also included a Distinguished Visitor Day on September 11, where observers witnessed live-fire maneuvers and combined operations. Senior officers from both sides expressed satisfaction at the teams operating together, and on each-others’ equipment, towards fulfillment of assigned real-world tasks.”
The Embassy noted that Exercise Yudh Abhyas, launched in 2002 as a platoon-level peacekeeping exercise, has grown steadily in scope and complexity, alternating annually between India and the United States.
“Today, it represents one of the most advanced and largest bilateral exercises conducted by India. Yudh Abhyas is a hallmark of the growing military-to-military partnership between India and the U.S., aligned with the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership between the two countries,” the statement added.
