Article Posted on : - Sep 30, 2014

JAMMU (PTI): A fourteen day-long Indo-US military exercise 'Yudh Abhyas 2014' has begun in Uttarakhand to strengthen and broaden inter-operability and cooperation between the two Armies.

"The India-US Combined Military Training Exercise 'Yudh Abhyas 2014', commenced on September 17 at Ranikhet and Chaubattia, is in progress," PRO, Defence, Northern Command, said.

The exercise, which will terminate on September 30, brought together troops of a Mountain Brigade of Indian Army and Company and Brigade Headquarters of the US Army, he said.

It is the tenth exercise in the Yudh Abhyas series, which had started in 2004 under US Army Pacific partnership program.

The exercise strengthens and broadens interoperability and cooperation between both the Armies and complements a number of other exchanges between the two forces, the PRO said.

Over the years, the two countries have decided to progressively increase the scope and content of the combined training, he said.

He said the Yudh Abhyas 2014 has witnessed a Brigade Headquarters-based 'Command Post Exercise', an Infantry company carrying out 'Field Training Exercise', discussions on strategic issues of mutual concern by experts of both countries and combined training between detachments of Special Forces.

The exercise provided an ideal platform for the Army personnel of the two countries to share their experiences on Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorist Operations, under United Nations mandated operations, he said.

Commanders and Staff Officers of both sides were exercised to work in close coordination to receive and collate intelligence and to issue suitable operational orders to the combined field training components, who executed these orders on ground, he said.

The exercise curriculum was planned progressively where the participants were initially made to get familiar with each other's organisational structure, weapons, equipment, and tactical drills, he said.

Subsequently, the training advanced to Joint Tactical Exercises wherein the battle drills of both the Armies were practiced, the PRO said.

A consolidation and validation exercise witnessed by senior officers and observers of both Armies, in which troops of both nations carried out a daring Search and Destroy Mission in the general area of Ghingharikhal near Ranikhet town, PRO said.

The final exercise was reviewed by Major General Lawrence Haskins of US Army and Major General Ashwani Kumar of Indian Army.