Daijiworld Media Network - Alaska
Alaska, Sept 2: An Indian Army contingent has landed at Fort Wainwright in Alaska for the 21st edition of Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025, a two-week joint military drill with the United States Army, scheduled from September 1 to 14.
Announcing the development, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“An Indian Army contingent has reached Fort Wainwright, Alaska, for the 21st edition of Yudh Abhyas 2025 (01–14 Sept). Alongside US 11th Airborne Division troops, they'll train in heliborne ops, mountain warfare, UAS/counter-UAS and joint tactical drills – boosting UN PKO & multi-domain readiness.”
A striking photograph shared by the MEA shows Indian soldiers standing before the massive C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, a symbol of strategic airlift capabilities and growing Indo-US defence collaboration.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the Indian team includes soldiers from a battalion of the Madras Regiment, while their American counterparts come from the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment — also known as the "Bobcats" — part of the Arctic Wolves Brigade of the US Army’s 11th Airborne Division.
Over the next two weeks, troops from both nations will engage in high-intensity training focused on:
• Heliborne operations
• Mountain warfare and rockcraft
• Combat medical and casualty evacuation drills
• Integration of artillery, aviation, and electronic warfare systems
• Live-fire exercises and joint tactical manoeuvres at high altitude
Subject-matter experts will also conduct joint workshops on key strategic areas, including information warfare, drone and counter-drone tactics, communications, and logistics.
Yudh Abhyas, a flagship exercise under Indo-US defence cooperation, plays a critical role in improving military interoperability and showcasing joint preparedness for UN peacekeeping missions and multi-domain operations.
The 2025 edition of the exercise takes on added significance against the backdrop of evolving global dynamics, including ongoing trade tensions and recent US concerns over India’s energy ties with Russia.