Yudh Abhyas 2026: India-US Forces Conduct Joint Tactical Drills With Indigenous Rampur Hounds
The 22nd edition of Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026 is underway, bringing Indian and US Army personnel together for intensive tactical training across challenging terrains. The exercise, which began with an opening ceremony at Auli in Uttarakhand on September 15, is being conducted simultaneously at Auli and the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan. Around 600 personnel from each country are participating.
One of the more unusual highlights this year has been the participation of Indian Army canines, including indigenous Rampur Hounds. The dogs have been involved in specialised tactical demonstrations alongside soldiers, showing how military working animals can support troops during close-quarter and demanding operational situations.
What Is Yudh Abhyas 2026?
Yudh Abhyas is a biennial exercise organized by the Indian Army and US Army. Yudh Abhyas exercise began in 2004 and is aimed at improving interoperability, tactical coordination and teamwork between the two armies.
This time round, the exercise will revolve around mountaineering and semi-mountaineering exercises, integrated battle groups, infantry led exercises, drones, drone counter-measures and other new technologies used in battlefields. Exercises include field exercises, command post exercises, academia and live firing exercises.
The American contingent consists of troops from the 11th Airborne Division, popularly referred to as “Arctic Angels”. The Indian contingent is made up of troops from the 14th Infantry Division and other units taking part in the exercise.
Why Rampur Hounds Are Getting Attention
The inclusion of Rampur Hounds has become one of the most striking features of Yudh Abhyas 2026. Victor and Rowdy are two Rampur Hounds out of four Indian Army dogs who featured at the exercise. Other dogs included at the exercise are Zac – a Belgian Malinois dog and Rice – a Labrador Retriever.
At tactical demonstrations, Indian Army dogs took part in various tasks including room intervention and rappelling and thus provided US military personnel a chance to see how dogs assist soldiers during special missions.
This inclusion of indigenous breed is especially important as it shows increased adaptation of the Indian Army to the use of local breeds in addition to traditional military dogs.
What Makes the Rampur Hound Special?
Rampur Hound is a native breed of India that has long been connected with the area of Rampur in Uttar Pradesh. With its swiftness, agility, and stamina, this dog breed is gradually gaining attention due to its possible use in military missions.
Unlike in previous exercises where such dogs are used to showcase indigenous capability, the deployment of such dogs during Yudh Abhyas 2026 shows how military working dogs could be deployed in operations together with assault teams and snipers among other advanced technologies.
From reports on the exercise, it is learned that the two dogs, namely Victor and Rowdy, have taken part in a multinational exercise in Umroi, Meghalaya and have been deployed along the Manipur border where they discovered improvised explosive devices. The brothers of these dogs were deployed in the Jalandhar and Amritsar sectors during Operation Sindoor.
What Happened During the Tactical Drills?
In one such demonstration, there were exercises between troops of India and the US that included drills for building and room clearance under the backdrop of close-quarter counter-terrorism.
The exercise included human assault forces along with Indian Army snipers, military dogs, drones, and even a robot dog. It helped US soldiers learn about the use of traditional military methods along with modern technology in a challenging scenario.
It is one step in the evolution of Yudh Abhyas that began from professional engagements and academic interactions.
From Military Dogs to AI and Drones
Yudh Abhyas 2026 is not restricted to traditional infantry drills. Technology has taken center stage in the preparations of the year 2026.
According to the Indian Ministry of Defense, the exercise has been conducted using drones and autonomous vehicles for conducting reconnaissance and surveillance, while military experts from both sides have shared their views on new technological developments and multidomain warfare.
According to US Army data regarding the exercise, the training has included counter-unmanned aircraft system and live fire exercise of HIMARS, Stinger, and M-LIDS at the Mahajan Field Firing Range.
This combination of conventional soldiers, military working dogs, autonomous vehicles, and precision weapons shows the modern approach to tactical training.
Why the Auli Location Matters
There is no doubt that Auli offers an excellent setting to conduct mountain warfare exercises. The high altitude offers Indian and American soldiers a chance to practice warfare in an environment which may differ considerably from conventional environments.
It is important to note that one of the objectives of the exercise is to enhance the capability of the two military forces to conduct warfare in mountainous and semi-mountainous terrains, focusing especially on operations conducted by infantry forces and integrated battle groups.
This implies that in addition to understanding the tactics of war, the soldiers will learn how to communicate with each other during the war.
What Is Happening at Mahajan Field Firing Range?
In that case, Auli is providing mountain and tactical training, while the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan provides live fire and weapons demonstrations.
Together, the Indian and US forces have engaged in joint live fire exercises of artillery systems like the M777 Ultra Light Howitzer, and even American systems like HIMARS and others with counter-drone abilities.
Thus, both the venues offer complementary training venues – tactical training at high altitudes in Uttarakhand and weapons/field firing training in Rajasthan.
Why India-US Interoperability Matters
One of the goals of Yudh Abhyas is interoperability, which is basically the capability of the two forces to work well together through effective communication and coordination.
It is not just about sharing common equipment that constitutes military cooperation. They have to understand each other’s tactics and processes.
For its part, the US Army has said that Yudh Abhyas 2026 is an exercise for enhancing readiness, cooperation, and interoperability, while for the Indian side, it is all about joint planning and operational coordination.
Why Yudh Abhyas 2026 Is Different
The exercise shows how the training of soldiers is developing from classical exercises to multidomain operations.
Not only do soldiers train together with drones, but also with anti-drone devices, autonomous systems, precision fire and military dogs. On the other hand, the exercise is still concerned with classical aspects like infantry, mountain warfare and close combat.
The involvement of Rampur Hounds creates another level for this combination. It proves that local capabilities can function together with modern technology and allied forces.
When Will Yudh Abhyas 2026 End?
The exercise is scheduled to conclude on September 28, 2026, following approximately two weeks of bilateral training.
Until then, participating troops are expected to continue progressing through field-training activities, tactical exercises, technology exchanges and live-fire components.
Conclusion
Yudh Abhyas 2026 has brought into focus a much more wide-ranging image of current military cooperation between India and America that goes far beyond a traditional joint exercise. Both Indian and US troops have been working together in the mountains, in counterterrorism and firing ranges and incorporating new technologies including drones and autonomous systems among others.
What has gained particular significance is the presence of the indigenous Rampur Hounds Victor and Rowdy, emphasizing the role played by Indian military dogs in special assignments and their capability of working side by side with troops in challenging conditions.
It is this amalgam of soldiers, technology and Indian military expertise that has made Yudh Abhyas 2026 unique, including the unlikely presence of Rampur Hounds as its highlight.
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