India-US Joint Military Exercise

Indian Bilateral relations policymaking over the last decade has placed immense emphasis on the importance of conducting Joint Military exercises with its allies and as a result, they have become somewhat of a mainstay. Since 2010 India has been conducting Joint Army Exercises with its allies which total to about 18 countries. Yudh Abhyas is India’s sole Bilateral joint military exercise with the US. The 17th Iteration of Indo-US Joint Military Exercises was conducted in Alaska at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska

About Yudh Abhyas

The Yudh Abhyas is a glowing symbol of the growing Indo – US relations with both countries having gradually deepened their ties economically, culturally and militarily.

In the latest iteration of the Yudh Abhyas, over 300 US Army soldiers and 350 soldiers of the 7 Madras infantry battalion of the Indian Army participated. The 14-day training exercise schedule included activities on joint training, specialising in counterinsurgency/counter-terrorism environments. Exercise Yudh Abhyas has been conducted bilaterally since 2004 between India and the US with the joint planning of Yudh Abhyas taking place at the Brigadier level. It aims to establish familiarity and develop interoperability between the militaries of India and the US. 

The Yudh Abhyas is a glowing symbol of the growing Indo – US relations which have gradually deepened ties both economically, culturally and militarily, and the Yudh Abhyas, is the largest running joint military training and defence program between the US and India.

The Yudh Abhyas includes lessons on organisation structure and Battle procedures that were being learnt by the troops of both armies. It is the only joint military exercise series with the US that continues in a bilateral format.

The training and exercises in Yudh Abhyas are carried out at the Battalion level, with the latest iteration of Yudh Abhyas consisting of Military exercises, cultural exchanges, the building of joint operational skills, development of friendships and exchange of knowledge.

Being conducted against the backdrop of the Coronavirus Pandemic, and continued aggression by the PLA on the LAC border, the exercise being conducted in Alaska can be seen interpreted as a signal being sent to China, which has several times in the past objected to India conducting military exercises with the US and its allies time and time again.

With the latest iteration of the Yudh Abhyas having been conducted at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, it will be a massive boost to both the militaries in their ability to undertake joint operations at the battalion level in mountainous terrain with cold climatic conditions.

Strengthening of India- US Ties

The US and India have signed several agreements over the past few years namely:-

• The General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA, 2002)
• Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA, 2016) 
• Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA, 2018)

Add to this the important aspect of this relationship is visible in the number of weapon purchases that have been happening between India and the US as part of the growing Indo-US relations which include India’s purchase of these weapon platforms, add to this the

The Induction of Heavyweight American Aircrafts such as the C-17 Globemaster, the C-130J Hercules tactical airlift aircraft, Chinook Heavy Lift Helicopters and M777 Ultra-Light Howitzer Have been taking place over the last decade. These Defense platforms have been in use by the US militaries for quite some time and having The US Army going through joint military exercises with India has proven crucial in the Indian Army’s ability to conduct operations along the mountainous terrain of the LAC.

• C-17 Globemaster 
• C-130J Transport Planes
• P-8i maritime reconnaissance aircraft 
• Harpoon missiles 
• Apache Helicopters
• Chinook Helicopters 
• M777 howitzers

Conclusion

Since its initial start in 2004, Yudh Abhyas has dramatically evolved, having initially been focused on establishing a partnership between the militaries of India and the US in its days of infancy, it has gradually evolved, To go along with these Bilateral Joint Military exercise India is third in the world in matters of military spending and with India securing defence contracts totalling worth 76$ Billion with the US in 2020 alone,  a wide number of western weapons and defence systems have been inducted into the army which has in turn, have greatly increased the capacity of India’s Military force significantly.