Indian and US Army personnel conducted a live-firing demonstration featuring the M777 Ultra Light Howitzer at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district. The activity was held as part of Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026, the ongoing bilateral military exercise between the two countries.
The demonstration highlighted artillery operations while giving troops from both sides an opportunity to observe procedures, exchange professional knowledge and discuss battlefield practices. Indian Army gun crews demonstrated the operation of the artillery system, while members of the visiting US contingent later engaged with personnel at the M777 battery positions.
The exercise is designed to strengthen interoperability and improve the ability of Indian and US forces to operate together during joint missions. The live-firing component also provided practical exposure to artillery deployment, coordination and tactical procedures under field conditions.
Before the firing demonstration, personnel participated in a lecture-cum-demonstration covering technical and tactical aspects of the M777 system. Discussions focused on gun deployment, operational efficiency, joint artillery tactics and coordination between units in a field environment.
Training also addressed the responsibilities of key appointments, local defense arrangements, movement to alternate positions during counter-bombardment and “shoot-and-scoot” procedures. These drills are intended to improve the speed and flexibility with which artillery units can deploy, engage targets and reposition.
The Mahajan Field Firing Range, situated in Bikaner, is the Indian Army’s largest and oldest field firing range. Its facilities are being used alongside the Auli Foreign Training Node in Uttarakhand for this year’s exercise.
Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026 began on September 15 and represents the 22nd edition of the India-US Army exercise. The two-week program involves approximately 600 personnel from each country. The training focuses on strengthening joint capabilities, particularly for operations involving Integrated Battle Groups in mountainous and semi-mountainous environments.
Technology is also an important part of this year’s exercise. The participating forces are training with drones and autonomous systems for surveillance and reconnaissance, alongside demonstrations of modern weapon systems at the Mahajan range.
The exercise is intended to facilitate the exchange of operational practices while improving joint planning, coordination and execution between the two armies.
