WATCH: To better understand each other, Indian & US armies conduct joint military exercise

India and the US have just concluded a joint military training exercise to prepare for any threats that might be encountered during UN peace-keeping operations. 

The training exercise, named Yudh Abhyas 2017 or War Practise 2017, was conducted at joint base Lewis McChord in Washington.

The two-week long exercise which began on September 14 and ended on September 27 witnessed soldiers from both countries honing their counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist skills under a joint brigade headquarter.

Both sides (together) trained, planned, and executed a series of well-developed tactical drills for the neutralisation of likely threats that may be encountered during UN peace-keeping operations.

One of the largest joint military training and defence cooperation endeavours between India and the US, this year's Yudh Abhyas was the thirteenth edition of the joint exercise which is hosted alternately by the two countries.

Exercises like Yudh Abhyas provide an opportunity to the armed forces of both countries to train in an integrated manner at battalion level, with joint planning at brigade level. 

Multiple scenarios were rehearsed during the joint exercise with a view to understanding each others organisational structures and battle procedures.

The exercise is aimed at a higher degree of what the armies called "jointsmanship" to further facilitate inter-operability between the armed forces of the two countries, and to meet any unforeseen contingency anywhere on the globe.

The exercise, the armies said, is also an ideal platform to learn from each other’s experiences of the planning and execution of operations.

Towards the end, a joint exercise simulating operational settings under a UN mandate was undertaken by the two armies.

Experts from both sides also held academic and military discussions on varied topics to share with each other their experiences for mutual benefit.