India-UAE Joint Military Exercise “Mountain Guardian 2026” Begins in Uttarakhand

India-UAE defence ties deepen as both armies train together in Chaubatia's challenging mountainous terrai

October 6, 2026

Exercise Mountain Guardian 2026 brings 92 troops from India and the UAE together for tactical drills and drone operations

Two-week drill covers tactical training, drone operations, surveillance and high-altitude combat skills

A joint military exercise between India and the United Arab Emirates began on Monday at the Foreign Training Node in Chaubatia, Uttarakhand, with a focus on mountain warfare aimed at enhancing interoperability and cooperation between the two armies.

Exercise Mountain Guardian 2026, running from October 5 to 18, brings together 92 personnel with equal representation from both armies. The Indian Army contingent comprises troops from a Bhairav Battalion, while the UAE Army has fielded personnel from a Mountain Infantry Battalion. Women officers and combatants from both sides are participating across specialist roles.

What the training covers

Over the two-week exercise, troops will undertake joint planning, tactical drills, firing practices, the establishment of surveillance grids, and drone operations, alongside physical endurance training. The programme also includes rock climbing, obstacle training and integrated field exercises designed to sharpen the participating forces’ ability to operate in challenging mountainous terrain.

Strengthening bilateral defence ties

The Ministry of Defence said the exercise is intended to provide an opportunity for personnel from both countries to exchange professional experience, enhance tactical proficiency and share best practices in operational procedures. It added that the engagement will further strengthen military-to-military cooperation between India and the UAE and reinforce the broader bonds of friendship and trust between the two nations.

The exercise forms part of a wider pattern of expanding defence engagement between India and the UAE in recent years, reflecting the deepening strategic relationship between the two countries beyond trade and economic ties.

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