As Indian and American soldiers train together in the Himalayas during the 22nd edition of Yudh Abhyas, the exercise highlights a battlefield where both soldiers and military technology are pushed to their limits. Speaking to WION's Defence Pulse, Major General Yash Mor (Retd.), an Indian Army veteran with extensive high-altitude experience, explained why operating in the Himalayas presents challenges few militaries routinely encounter. Gen. Mor has served two tenures in Ladakh, including Eastern Ladakh, and has operated across high-altitude areas during his Army career. He pointed to decades of Indian experience in environments ranging from Siachen to the battlefields of Kargil. “I don't think any other army in the world has the high-altitude warfare experience that we have.” This year's exercise is also demonstrating how technology is changing mountain warfare. Drones, autonomous systems and counter-drone capabilities are being incorporated alongside conventional infantry operations. American troops from the 11th Airborne Division, known as the Arctic Angels, are bringing their own experience of operating in extreme cold.&nbsp;WATCH:&nbsp;<figure class="media"><oembed url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdd0aQmqLew&amp;list=PLKwyKu6LhauQ&amp;index=4"></oembed></figure> Gen Mor said modern conflicts have accelerated the military emphasis on drones, robotics and network-centric warfare. But high altitude creates an additional problem. Technology that performs reliably elsewhere can suffer significant degradation in extreme cold and thin air. He explains how engines, batteries, electronics, communications equipment and other military systems can see their performance fall dramatically during severe winters. “Equipment really takes a beating in high-altitude terrain. Maintenance of equipment and safeguarding of equipment is a challenge which not many people understand unless they handle the equipment.” The same environment places enormous demands on soldiers. Acclimatisation, nutrition, health, morale and the ability to sustain operations at temperatures that can fall below minus 30 degrees Celsius become as important as weapons and sensors. Yudh Abhyas 2026 therefore represents more than interoperability between two armies. It brings emerging battlefield technologies into one of the world's most unforgiving combat environments, combining the lessons of modern drone warfare with India's decades of experience fighting and operating at extreme altitude.

Gen Mor said modern conflicts have accelerated the military emphasis on drones, robotics and network-centric warfare. But high altitude creates an additional problem. Technology that performs reliably elsewhere can suffer significant degradation in extreme cold and thin air.

As Indian and American soldiers train together in the Himalayas during the 22nd edition of Yudh Abhyas, the exercise highlights a battlefield where both soldiers and military technology are pushed to their limits. Speaking to WION's Defence Pulse, Major General Yash Mor (Retd.), an Indian Army veteran with extensive high-altitude experience, explained why operating in the Himalayas presents challenges few militaries routinely encounter. Gen. Mor has served two tenures in Ladakh, including Eastern Ladakh, and has operated across high-altitude areas during his Army career. He pointed to decades of Indian experience in environments ranging from Siachen to the battlefields of Kargil. “I don't think any other army in the world has the high-altitude warfare experience that we have.” This year's exercise is also demonstrating how technology is changing mountain warfare. Drones, autonomous systems and counter-drone capabilities are being incorporated alongside conventional infantry operations. American troops from the 11th Airborne Division, known as the Arctic Angels, are bringing their own experience of operating in extreme cold. WATCH: Gen Mor said modern conflicts have accelerated the military emphasis on drones, robotics and network-centric warfare. But high altitude creates an additional problem. Technology that performs reliably elsewhere can suffer significant degradation in extreme cold and thin air. He explains how engines, batteries, electronics, communications equipment and other military systems can see their performance fall dramatically during severe winters. “Equipment really takes a beating in high-altitude terrain. Maintenance of equipment and safeguarding of equipment is a challenge which not many people understand unless they handle the equipment.” The same environment places enormous demands on soldiers. Acclimatisation, nutrition, health, morale and the ability to sustain operations at temperatures that can fall below minus 30 degrees Celsius become as important as weapons and sensors. Yudh Abhyas 2026 therefore represents more than interoperability between two armies. It brings emerging battlefield technologies into one of the world's most unforgiving combat environments, combining the lessons of modern drone warfare with India's decades of experience fighting and operating at extreme altitude.

Gen Mor said modern conflicts have accelerated the military emphasis on drones, robotics and network-centric warfare. But high altitude creates an additional problem. Technology that performs reliably elsewhere can suffer significant degradation in extreme cold and thin air.

Nobody understands high-altitude warfare better than Indian Army, says Maj Gen Yash Mor

Indian and US troops have begun their largest annual land exercise in more than two decades, splitting 1,200 soldiers between the high Himalayas of Uttarakhand and the firing ranges of Rajasthan to practise mountain warfare, drones and long-range fires. The 22nd edition of Yudh Abhyas opened on Tuesday at Auli Foreign Training Node, where Major General Amaresh Gunjan, General Officer Commanding of the Indian Army’s 14 Infantry Division, and Colonel Benjamin Jackman of the US 11th Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team addressed contingents of about 600 personnel from each side. Training is running in parallel at Mahajan Field Firing Range. The US force includes soldiers from the 11th Airborne Division, known as the “Arctic Angels”. Officials said the two-week drill will move from academic exchanges on space, cyber and multi-domain operations to a brigade-level command post exercise, field lanes, counter-drone training at Auli, and live-fire serials at Mahajan involving HIMARS, Stinger missiles and the Mobile Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System, or M-LIDS.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-dismisses-pakistan-bounty-on-masood-azhar-as-phony-1789473976877">India dismisses Pakistan bounty on Masood Azhar as 'phony'</a>&nbsp;“Yudh Abhyas 2026 provides our soldiers an opportunity to enhance bilateral readiness, cooperation and interoperability,” Jackman said. “By training alongside the Indian Army, we are strengthening our mutual trust and building combat credibility.” The Indian side framed the exercise as a full-spectrum test. “Exercise Yudh Abhyas gives us a platform to exchange tactics, techniques and procedures across the full spectrum of multidomain operations, from precision fires at Mahajan to mountain warfare here in Auli,” he said. “It strengthens the bond between our armies and prepares us to prevail together in any environment.” India’s defence ministry said the aim is to improve the two armies’ ability to employ Integrated Battle Groups in mountainous and semi-mountainous terrain, with an emphasis on infantry-led operations. Technology is a central theme as drones and autonomous systems will be used for surveillance and reconnaissance, contemporary weapons will be demonstrated at Mahajan, and subject-matter experts will compare notes on emerging multi-domain warfare. Jackman said the test would be whether headquarters and small units can “seamlessly integrate our capabilities”. “When we conclude this training, our Soldiers will stand side by side as a more lethal, coordinated and ready force.” Held annually since 2004 and sponsored on the US side by US Army Pacific, Yudh Abhyas is designed to deepen interoperability under the US-India Major Defence Partnership. This year’s edition is scheduled to close on 28 September.

India and the US have begun the 22nd edition of Yudh Abhyas, deploying around 1,200 troops across Uttarakhand and Rajasthan to train in mountain warfare, drone operations, precision fires and multi-domain combat.

Indian and US troops have begun their largest annual land exercise in more than two decades, splitting 1,200 soldiers between the high Himalayas of Uttarakhand and the firing ranges of Rajasthan to practise mountain warfare, drones and long-range fires. The 22nd edition of Yudh Abhyas opened on Tuesday at Auli Foreign Training Node, where Major General Amaresh Gunjan, General Officer Commanding of the Indian Army’s 14 Infantry Division, and Colonel Benjamin Jackman of the US 11th Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team addressed contingents of about 600 personnel from each side. Training is running in parallel at Mahajan Field Firing Range. The US force includes soldiers from the 11th Airborne Division, known as the “Arctic Angels”. Officials said the two-week drill will move from academic exchanges on space, cyber and multi-domain operations to a brigade-level command post exercise, field lanes, counter-drone training at Auli, and live-fire serials at Mahajan involving HIMARS, Stinger missiles and the Mobile Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System, or M-LIDS. Also Read: India dismisses Pakistan bounty on Masood Azhar as 'phony' “Yudh Abhyas 2026 provides our soldiers an opportunity to enhance bilateral readiness, cooperation and interoperability,” Jackman said. “By training alongside the Indian Army, we are strengthening our mutual trust and building combat credibility.” The Indian side framed the exercise as a full-spectrum test. “Exercise Yudh Abhyas gives us a platform to exchange tactics, techniques and procedures across the full spectrum of multidomain operations, from precision fires at Mahajan to mountain warfare here in Auli,” he said. “It strengthens the bond between our armies and prepares us to prevail together in any environment.” India’s defence ministry said the aim is to improve the two armies’ ability to employ Integrated Battle Groups in mountainous and semi-mountainous terrain, with an emphasis on infantry-led operations. Technology is a central theme as drones and autonomous systems will be used for surveillance and reconnaissance, contemporary weapons will be demonstrated at Mahajan, and subject-matter experts will compare notes on emerging multi-domain warfare. Jackman said the test would be whether headquarters and small units can “seamlessly integrate our capabilities”. “When we conclude this training, our Soldiers will stand side by side as a more lethal, coordinated and ready force.” Held annually since 2004 and sponsored on the US side by US Army Pacific, Yudh Abhyas is designed to deepen interoperability under the US-India Major Defence Partnership. This year’s edition is scheduled to close on 28 September.

India and the US have begun the 22nd edition of Yudh Abhyas, deploying around 1,200 troops across Uttarakhand and Rajasthan to train in mountain warfare, drone operations, precision fires and multi-domain combat.

1,200 Indian and US troops begin high-altitude and desert drills

yudh-abhyas-2026

Yudh Abhyas 2026, News on Yudh Abhyas 2026, stories on Yudh Abhyas 2026, articles on Yudh Abhyas 2026, Yudh Abhyas 2026 stories at Wion, Yudh Abhyas 2026 news, Yudh Abhyas 2026 latest news

yudh abhyas-2026

Nobody understands high-altitude warfare better than Indian Army, says Maj Gen Yash Mor

1,200 Indian and US troops begin high-altitude and desert drills