Indo-US Joint Special Forces exercise begins at Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh

The Vajra Prahar series of joint exercises aims to share best practices and experiences in mission planning and operational tactics

Team PGurus

August 8, 2022

The Vajra Prahar series of joint exercises aims to share best practices and experiences in mission planning and operational tactics

Vajra Prahar 2022: 13th edition of the Indo-US Joint Special Forces exercise

The elite Special Forces of India and the United States on Monday commenced their joint exercise ‘Vajra Prahar’ at the Special Forces Training School (SFTS) in Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh. It is the 13th edition of the Indo-US Joint Special Forces exercise and will last for 21 days. The US contingent is represented by personnel from the 1st Special Forces Group (SFG) and Special Tactics Squadron (STS) of US Special Forces and the Indian Army contingent is formed by drawing Special Forces personnel under the aegis of SFTS, officials said here on Monday.

The ‘Vajra Prahar’ series of joint exercises aims to share best practices and experiences in areas such as joint mission planning and operational tactics as also to improve inter-operability between the Special Forces of both nations. This annual exercise is hosted alternatively between India and the United States. The 12th edition was conducted at Joint Base Lewis Mcchord, Washington (USA) in October 2021.

During the course of the next 21 days, teams of both armies will jointly train, plan and execute a series of special operations, counter-terrorist operations, and airborne operations in simulated conventional and unconventional scenarios in mountainous terrain. This joint exercise is a significant step in strengthening the traditional bond of friendship between the special forces of both nations. It also improves bilateral defense cooperation between India and the USA.

India and the United States will hold a two-week-long drill in Uttarakhand’s Auli in October amid the fast-evolving regional security scenario. The “Yudh Abhyas” (meaning War Training) exercise will take place in the backdrop of the ongoing stand-off between the armies of India and China for the last two years in eastern Ladakh.

The 18th edition of exercise “Yudh Abhyas” will be held from October 14 to 31, said Indian officials on Thursday. A number of complex drills are being planned for the mega exercise, they said. The last edition of the exercise took place in October 2021 in Alaska in the US. The Indo-US defence ties have been on an upswing for the past few years. In June 2016, the US designated India a “Major Defence Partner“.[1]

Reference:

[1] Indo – US military drills scheduled at Auli region in Uttarakhand in October – Aug 05, 2022, PGurus.com

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