COVER STORY

New Delhi: Indian Naval Ship Sahyadri arrived at Vladivostok, Russia, on 10 Oct 2026 to participate in Exercise INDRA 2026, a bilateral exercise between the Indian Navy and the Russian Federation Navy (RuFN) scheduled from 13 to 18 Oct 2026. The deployment provides an opportunity for professional engagements and operational interaction between the two navies, furthering maritime cooperation and interoperability.

The participation of INS Sahyadri is in consonance with the Government of India’s vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions)and builds upon the longstanding defence and maritime partnership between India and Russia. The deployment also provides an opportunity to carry forward the momentum generated during the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit held on 04–05 Dec 2025.

Exercise INDRA 2026 will comprise engagements during the harbour phase followed by coordinated operational activities at sea. The exercise will include a range of professional interactions and maritime evolutions aimed at enhancing mutual understanding, operational coordination and interoperability between the participating navies.

In addition to operational engagements, social and cultural interactions will provide opportunities for personnel of both navies to interact and foster camaraderie and people-to-people connections.

New Delhi: The 18^th edition of the India – Mongolia Joint Military Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT, an annual platoon-level exercise conducted alternately in India and Mongolia, commenced today at the Foreign Training Node, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. The exercise is scheduled from 21 September to 03 October 2026. The last edition of the exercise was conducted at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in May–June 2025. The Indian Army and the Mongolian Armed Forces are represented by 45 personnel each.

The exercise aims to enhance the joint military capability of both sides to undertake Counter-Insurgency Operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain under the United Nations Mandate.

The joint training will focus on tactical-level operations, exchange of best practices, refinement of operational drills and enhancement of interoperability between the two armies. The training curriculum will include Cordon and Search Operations, Room Intervention Drills, Special Heliborne Operations, Cyber Security Training and employment of drones and counter-drone systems, among other activities. These drills will provide troops of both Armies an opportunity to train together in realistic operational scenarios and strengthen their ability to operate jointly.

Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT 2026 will further enhance defence cooperation between India and Mongolia and reinforce the longstanding bonds of friendship and mutual trust between the two friendly nations.