New Delhi: (Oct 5) A joint military exercise involving troops of India and the UAE began on Monday in Uttarakhand, aiming to enhance interoperability, mutual understanding and cooperation, with a focus on mountain warfare.
A total of 92 personnel, with equal representation from both armies, are participating in ‘Exercise Mountain Guardian’. The Indian Army contingent comprises troops from a Bhairav Battalion, while the UAE Army contingent has troops from a Mountain Infantry Battalion, the defence ministry said.
“Women officers and combatants from both armies are also participating in the exercise across specialist roles,” it said in a statement.
The two-week exercise will feature joint planning, tactical drills, firing practices, establishment of surveillance grids, drone operations, physical endurance training, rock climbing and obstacle training, besides integrated field exercises.
The training will also focus on technology-enabled operations and facilitate an exchange of tactics, techniques and procedures relevant to military operations in difficult mountainous terrain.
The exercise is aimed at providing the participating troops an opportunity to share professional experience, improve tactical proficiency and exchange best practices in operational procedures.
The conduct of Mountain Guardian 2026 is expected to further strengthen military-to-military cooperation between India and the UAE, while reinforcing the bonds of friendship, trust and mutual understanding between the two countries.
