New Delhi, September 22, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Indian and US Army troops conducted joint artillery firing and trained across multiple operational scenarios in Rajasthan on Tuesday as part of the ongoing bilateral exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas 2026’, focusing on interoperability and coordination between the two forces.
The day’s main activity was a joint live-fire exercise at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district. Artillery units from both armies operated M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers, indigenous Dhanush guns and Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers.
L70 air defence guns and the Mobile Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System (M-LIDS) were also deployed during the drills to create a layered response against simulated threats, including drones.
Observation post teams from both armies worked together during the exercise. Troops practised identifying targets, transmitting coordinates, carrying out engagement procedures, issuing fire commands and making post-firing corrections.
The integrated training covered the battlefield fire-support chain from target detection to engagement, giving personnel practical exposure to each other’s communication protocols, fire-control systems and operational procedures.
The Indian Army said the joint training is aimed at facilitating the exchange of operational best practices and improving coordination, enabling the two forces to operate together in varied environments. Precision, rapid response and seamless coordination remained key elements of the drills.
The latest firing exercise followed earlier artillery activity at the same range, where M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers were fired two days ago.
The 22nd edition of the annual India-US bilateral exercise began on September 15 and is being conducted simultaneously at the Auli Foreign Training Node in Uttarakhand and the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.
Around 600 personnel from each country are participating in the exercise, which focuses on Integrated Battle Groups, mountain and semi-mountainous operations, drones, autonomous systems and long-range precision fires.
As part of a related professional exchange, four Indian Army military dogs — Rice, Victor, Jack, also referred to as Zac in some reports, and Rowdy — demonstrated specialised skills. The canines participated in exercises involving entry into suspected hideouts and rappelling, allowing US personnel to observe their agility, training standards and tactical support capabilities.
The Indian Army described the exercise’s approach as: “Training Together. Learning Together. Operating Better Together.”
The joint training is aimed at further strengthening defence cooperation, interoperability and operational readiness between the Indian and US armies.
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