GUWAHATI: Indian and Australian military forces commenced the third edition of the joint military exercise ‘Austrahind’ in Pune on Friday, November 8.
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This exercise, set to continue until November 21, brings together 255 soldiers and officers from both nations, including troops from India’s 9 Dogra Infantry Battalion, 72 Infantry Brigade, 36 Rapid Strike, and Garud Commandos from the Indian Air Force, alongside the Australian Army’s 13th Brigade of the 2nd Division.
Held at the Foreign Training Node of Aundh Military Station, the exercise aims to strengthen military relations and bolster defence cooperation, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, where shared strategic goals and common threats unite the two democracies.
The exercise will be divided into two main phases. The initial combat conditioning and tactical training phase will focus on conditioning, cross-training on each other’s weapon systems, medical and canine training, and urban combat techniques.
The second phase, the validation phase, will test combined operational capabilities, including response drills for potential terrorist actions, counter-terrorism missions, securing helipads, drone employment and counter-drone measures, and special heli-borne operations.
Instituted in 2022, ‘Austrahind’ has previously been held in Rajasthan’s Mahajan Field Ranges and Perth, Australia, and is slated to continue annually, alternating between India and Australia. The exercise joins other prominent joint military collaborations such as Malabar, AusIndex, and Pitch Black.
