Exercise YUDH ABHYAS-2024

Why in news?

The 20th edition of the India-USA Joint Military Exercise, YUDH ABHYAS-2024, commenced on September 9, 2024, at the Foreign Training Node in Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan.

This annual exercise, alternating between India and the USA since 2004, is set to run until September 22, 2024

About:

• It is ajoint military exerciseconductedannually between India and USA.
• It has beenongoing since 2004.
• It is designed to promote cooperation between the two militaries while sharing training, cultural exchanges, and building joint operating skills.
• Theprevious editionof the exercise was conducted at Fort Wainwright,Alaska, USA
• Yudh Abhyas 2024:
• It marks the20th editionof the exercise.
• Location:Mahajan Field Firing RangeinRajasthan
• It is designed toenhance interoperabilityand strengthen the operational capabilities of both forces.
• It will feature a range of advanced military tactics and coordinated manoeuvres aimed at improving the readiness of both armies in high-stakes scenarios
• It is going tofeature one of the largest U.S. contingentsat the exercise witharound 600 personnel,and theU.S. Army is also set to deployStryker infantry vehiclesand theM142HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System).
• Theseadvanced rocket systems, which have gained prominence for their use in Ukraine, candeliver precision strikes over extended ranges.