U.S., Indian Forces Fly, Fight Together in Combined Air Assault

U.S. and Indian Army forces executed a combined air assault during Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026 near Auli, India, Sept. 25, seizing two objectives in a mission that integrated soldiers from both nations into the same formations. 

The operation began with battalion scouts moving forward to conduct reconnaissance of the area. The lead company then moved into assault positions, isolated the first objective and secured it. The second company isolated the other objective ahead of the air assault.

Soldiers were then transported by an Indian helicopter onto a landing zone near the second objective, before moving into position. Indian soldiers conducted their own air assault shortly after, descending from a helicopter to join the force and seize the objective. Both objectives were accomplished before the combined force transitioned into a hasty defense. 

Army Capt. Gaston Adam, 1st Mobile Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, deputy operations officer, said the mission’s success depended on close coordination between U.S. ground forces and Indian Army aviation. Both forces conducted an air mission coordination meeting the day before, followed by cold load training and aircraft familiarization that allowed soldiers to practice safely entering and exiting the helicopter.

“The integration between the ground force and the aviation task force, particularly the pilots, is integral to an operation like this,” Adam said. “You have to be able to look that pilot in the eye and trust they’re going to get you there safely. It builds confidence in the soldiers that they’re actually going to reach their objective and can focus on their mission.” 

The mission’s task organization reflected the exercise’s emphasis on interoperability between nations. The first company, led by a U.S. commander, included two U.S. platoons and one Indian platoon. The second company, also under U.S. command, was organized the same way. A separate Indian company, serving as a decoy element during the operation, included two Indian platoons and one U.S. platoon. 

“It just goes to show that even though we’re mixing our formations together, we can still work together and execute a good plan,” Adam said, adding that the exercise’s systems and checklists, understood across both armies, were essential to the operation’s success.

The mission marked the first of three repetitions planned during the exercise, with additional air assaults scheduled for the following two days under different task organizations.  

“It’s been great working with the Indian Army,” Adam said. “The planning has been great.” 

Yudh Abhyas 2026 is the 22nd iteration of the annual U.S. Army Pacific-sponsored bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Indian armies, designed to enhance bilateral readiness, cooperation and interoperability.