The Ministry of Defence said the exercise, named ‘Mountain Guardian 2026’, began at 0800 hrs on Oct. 5 at the Foreign Training Node in Chaubatia, Uttarakhand.
92 troops – 46 from the Indian Army's Bhairav Battalion and 46 from the UAE's Mountain Infantry Battalion – will conduct joint planning, tactical drills and drone operations.
Women officers and combatants from both armies will perform specialist roles, a first for a bilateral drill, the ministry added.
The program will test surveillance, firing, rock‑climbing, obstacle courses, and technology‑enabled operations, with an emphasis on endurance training in high‑altitude terrain.
Local villagers in Chaubatia say the presence of foreign soldiers has boosted tourism and provided a morale lift, though some worry about noise during the night.
The exercise will wrap up on Oct. 18 with a joint after‑action review, and both nations plan to incorporate lessons into future trainings.