Apache attack helicopters of the Indian Army have joined Indian and US troops for Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026, adding an aviation dimension to the ongoing bilateral drills at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.The 22nd edition of the exercise is being held simultaneously at Auli in Uttarakhand and the firing range in Rajasthan, with around 600 personnel from each side, including soldiers from the US Army’s 11th Airborne Division, taking part.The Apache’s participation comes as the Army continues to build up its attack helicopter fleet. It has so far inducted six AH-64E helicopters, which operate out of Jodhpur under the 451 Army Aviation Squadron. During the exercise, the Apache demonstrated rapid target acquisition and precision-strike capabilities, using its sensors, fire-control systems and real-time data links to quickly turn battlefield intelligence into action.First introduced into the US Army in 1986, the Apache has seen combat from Panama to Iraq and Kosovo and remains one of the most capable attack helicopters in service. Powered by twin engines, it can reach speeds of up to 365 kmph. The helicopter was inducted into the Indian Army in July last year and has already been tested in demanding operational conditions. The Indian Air Force’s Apache fleet, for instance, was deployed at high altitudes in Eastern Ladakh during the standoff with China.The drills cover a wide spectrum of operations, ranging from a brigade-level command post exercise and expert-level academic discussions to mountain warfare and cold-weather training at Auli, as well as counter-unmanned aircraft system training.Live-fire activity at the Mahajan range includes the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, Stinger missiles and the Mobile Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System (MLIDS). The Apache deployment is focused on joint mission planning, battlefield coordination and precision engagement between attack aviation and ground forces. The drills are intended to help the two armies refine common procedures and communication in a realistic operational environment.Officials said the exercise is structured to progress in stages, beginning with subject-matter expert exchanges and command post drills before moving to situational training lanes and, ultimately, complex live-fire scenarios. This allows established procedures to be tested under increasingly demanding conditions.The exercise reflects Yudh Abhyas 2026’s broader emphasis on integrated, multi-domain operations and is scheduled to continue until the end of September.
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