Photo By Sgt. Everett Babbitt | Brigadier Rajiv Saharan, commander of the Indian Army, 65th Infantry Brigade, speaks...... read more read more
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FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska — Soldiers from the United States and Indian Armies concluded Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025 Sept. 14 following two weeks of combined training across the interior of Alaska.
The bilateral exercise brought together more than 1,000 U.S. Soldiers from both the 11th Airborne Division and Indian Army. It marked another ambitious iteration of the annual training event designed to improve readiness, enhance interoperability, and strengthen the defense partnership between the two nations.
A Tradition of Cooperation
Yudh Abhyas, which translates to “preparing for war” in Hindi, began in 2004 as a counterinsurgency-focused exchange. Over time, it has evolved into a large-scale exercise addressing conventional and hybrid threats, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief. The exercise alternates each year between India and the United States, with the 2025 iteration held in Alaska.
According to U.S. Army Pacific, the exercise supports Indo-Pacific Command objectives by developing staff coordination, integrating operational enablers, advancing air-to-ground integration, and testing multi-domain operations concepts.
Opening and Structure
The exercise opened Sept. 2 with a ceremony attended by senior leaders from both nations. Over the following days, Soldiers participated in a command post exercise at the brigade level, a field training exercise involving company and battalion elements, and expert academic exchanges.
The training focused on Arctic and sub-Arctic conditions, reflecting Alaska’s environment and its relevance to regional security. Scenarios tested the ability of U.S. and Indian units to conduct sustained operations in austere terrain while responding to simulated combat and contingency situations.
Combined Field Training
The field training exercise emphasized tactical maneuver, fires integration, and sustainment in cold environments. Units rehearsed combined arms operations, coordinated fire support, and executed complex maneuver training across Fort Greely’s ranges.
The bilateral training event marked another step in building readiness, interoperability and trust between the two nations
The Indian Army observed closely, with their soldiers positioned alongside American crews. The exchange of tactics, techniques and procedures allowed both forces to refine artillery operations in cold weather and high altitude conditions. Together, they practiced rapid emplacement, sustained fires and coordination with forward observers — skills vital to any future fight.
Academic and Medical Exchanges
In parallel with field training, Soldiers conducted classroom exchanges on doctrine and best practices. Topics included staff coordination, intelligence preparation of the battlefield, logistics planning, and force health protection.
A medical exchange brought together personnel from the 18th Theater Medical Command, the 11th Airborne Division, and the Indian Army to share approaches to combat medicine. U.S. Army instructors presented on patient evacuation and antimicrobial resistance, while Indian officers discussed high-altitude physiology and cold-weather treatment techniques. Training was reinforced through hands-on sessions at the Fort Wainwright Medical Simulation Training Center.
Multi-Domain and Arctic Focus
Throughout the exercise, planners emphasized the integration of land, air, and space-based assets in support of maneuver. Both armies worked through scenarios requiring target acquisition, long-range precision engagement, and the synchronization of intelligence and sustainment networks.
Alaska’s terrain provided the opportunity to test interoperability in Sub-Arctic-like conditions. Indian Army units, experienced in high-altitude operations, exchanged lessons on cold-weather injury prevention and mountain warfare. U.S. Army Soldiers gained exposure to tactics and procedures relevant to large-scale operations in the Indo-Pacific theater.
Cultural Exchange and Team Building
Beyond tactical training, participants engaged in cultural exchange activities. Soldiers shared meals, participated in sports competitions, and toured local areas. Leaders from both armies stressed the importance of personal relationships in building trust and long-term cooperation.
Closing Ceremony
The exercise concluded Sept. 14 with a ceremony recognizing the efforts of all participants. Leaders from the U.S. and Indian Armies addressed formations, emphasizing the value of shared training and the strategic importance of the partnership.
Senior officials highlighted that the exercise demonstrated both nations’ ability to rapidly deploy, integrate, and sustain forces in complex environments. The closing event underscored U.S. Army Pacific’s commitment to campaigning, transformation, lethality, partnerships, and people — priorities outlined in the theater’s strategic communications guidance.
Strategic Context
Leaders of both armies noted that exercises like Yudh Abhyas support broader defense cooperation between the United States and India, which includes maritime exercises such as Malabar, humanitarian engagements like Pacific Partnership, and joint service events such as Tiger Triumph and Cope India.
The 2025 iteration reinforced that the U.S.-India defense relationship continues to expand in scope and complexity, reflecting shared priorities in the Indo-Pacific region.
Looking Ahead
As the Soldiers returned to their home stations, leaders from both armies described the training as an important step in sustaining combined readiness and strengthening bilateral ties. Future iterations of Yudh Abhyas will continue alternating between the United States and India, with the 2026 exercise scheduled to take place in India.
| Date Taken: | 09.16.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.22.2025 01:30 |
| Story ID: | 548341 |
| Location: | ALASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 148 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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