India-UAE Mountain Guardian 2026 Joint Military Exercise Begins in Uttarakhand with 92 Personnel from Both Armies

The third edition of the India-UAE joint military exercise Mountain Guardian began on October 5, 2026, at the Foreign Training Node in Chaubatia, Uttarakhand, and runs through October 18. The Indian Army's Additional Directorate General of Public Information said the two-week exercise between the Indian Army and UAE Land Forces focuses on joint planning, tactical drills, handling of equipment and integrated field exercises leveraging modern technology, and will strengthen interoperability between the two armies in sub-conventional operations, according to IANS. Greater Kashmir and India Strategic report that 92 personnel are taking part, 46 from each side, with the Indian contingent drawn from a Bhairav Battalion and the UAE contingent from a Mountain Infantry Battalion, and that women officers and combatants from both armies are participating in specialist roles.

The reports say the training also includes firing practices, surveillance-grid and drone operations, physical endurance training, rock climbing and obstacle training, with a focus on tactics, techniques and procedures for difficult mountainous terrain. The exercise follows other recent India-UAE defence engagements: the 10th India-UAE Navy Staff Talks were held in Abu Dhabi on September 16-17, 2026, and the Indian Air Chief met the UAE Air Force and Air Defence commander on September 4, according to IANS.

Sources

Greater Kashmir, India-UAE joint military exercise Mountain Guardian 2026 commences in Uttarakhand, October 5, 2026, greaterkashmir.com India Strategic, India, UAE begin Mountain Guardian exercise to sharpen mountain warfare skills, October 5, 2026, indiastrategic.in IANS via Punjab Kesari, India, UAE reinforce growing defence partnership with 'Exercise Mountain Guardian', October 5, 2026, english.punjabkesari.com