Mountain Guardian 2026 Begins in Uttarakhand

On October 5, 2026, the India-UAE joint military exercise Mountain Guardian 2026 commenced at Chaubattia in Uttarakhand. Its objective is to enhance interoperability, mutual understanding, and cooperation, with a focus on mountain warfare.

Key Highlights

Event Duration: The exercise is being held from October 5 to 18, 2026, at the Foreign Training Node, Chaubattia.
Participation: 92 personnel from both armies are participating in the exercise with equal representation.
Military Contingents: The Indian contingent features troops from the Bhairav Battalion, while the UAE contingent comprises personnel from the Mountain Infantry Battalion.
Women's Participation: Female officers and combatants from both forces are part of the exercise in various specialist roles.
Training: Training will cover joint planning, tactical drills, firing, drone operations, surveillance grid, rock climbing, and obstacle training.