Indian Army holds military exercises separately with US, Japanese forces

NEW DELHI: The Indian Army is engaged in a slew of military exercises with the US and Japanese defence forces simultaneously to enhance interoperability, jointness and mutual exchange of special operations tactics.

A US army contingent is currently in India to participate in 16th edition of the India-US Joint Special Forces Exercise Vajra Prahar, being conducted at the Special Forces Training School, Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh. The Indian Army contingent, represented by Special Forces units, comprises 45 personnel, while the US will be represented by 12 personnel from the Green Berets of the US Special Forces.

The previous edition of the exercise was held at the Orchard Combat Training Centre in Idaho, US, in Nov 2024.

The aim of Vajra Prahar is to promote military cooperation between India and the US through enhanced interoperability, jointness and mutual exchange of special operations tactics. The exercise is designed to strengthen combined capabilities for conducting joint Special Forces operations in mountainous terrain. The training will focus on a high degree of physical conditioning, joint mission planning and the execution of joint tactical drills.

The 7th edition of the annual Joint Military Exercise 'Dharma Guardian' between the Indian Army and the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF) commenced on Tuesday at the Foreign Training Node, Chaubattia in Uttarakhand. The exercise will be conducted from Feb 24 to March 9. This edition brings together a 120-member contingent from each side, with the JGSDF represented by troops from the 32nd Infantry Regiment and the Indian Army contingent drawn from the Ladakh Scouts.

In another military drill, the Indian Army conducted Exercise Agni Varsha at the Pokhran field firing ranges on Tuesday to validate operational preparedness and integrated combat capabilities in the desert sector. The exercise integrated advanced technologies, including unmanned aerial systems, counter-drone capabilities, precision strike rockets, modern artillery platforms and networked surveillance systems. The Integrated Manoeuvre Force comprised Main Battle Tanks (T-90), Infantry Combat Vehicles, K-9 Vajra, Sharang and Bofors artillery systems, rocket platforms, indigenous ALH Weapon System Integrated helicopters, Apache attack helicopters and a range of surveillance and strike drones, the release noted.