SHILLONG: The 16th edition of the India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise, “Nomadic Elephant”, kicked off today at the Foreign Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya.
Scheduled from July 3 to 16, the exercise aims to bolster joint military capabilities between the two nations.
The Indian contingent, comprising 45 personnel from a Battalion of Sikkim Scouts along with members from other arms and services, is set to participate alongside the Mongolian contingent from the 150 Quick Reaction Force Battalion.
This annual training event alternates between India and Mongolia, with the previous edition held in Mongolia in July 2023.
The opening ceremony witnessed the presence of Dambajavyn Ganbold, Ambassador of Mongolia to India, and Major General Prasanna Joshi, General Officer Commanding 51 Sub Area of the Indian Army.
Exercise Nomadic Elephant is designed to enhance the joint military capability of both nations to undertake counter-insurgency operations in a sub-conventional scenario under Chapter VII of the United Nations Mandate.
The focus of the exercise will be on operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrains.
The tactical drills in the exercise will cover several key areas.
These include responding to terrorist actions, setting up a joint command post, and creating an intelligence and surveillance centre.
Additionally, the drills will involve securing a helipad or landing site, conducting small team insertion and extraction, and performing special heliborne operations.
The training will also include cordon and search operations and using drones and counter-drone systems, among other activities.
Major General Gyanbyamba Sunrev, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Mongolia, is slated to attend the closing ceremony on July 16, along with Lieutenant General Zubin A. Minwalla, General Officer Commanding 33 Corps of the Indian Army.
This exercise will allow both sides to share best practices in tactics, techniques, and procedures for conducting joint operations.
It will also foster interoperability, camaraderie, and mutual respect between the two armies, further strengthening defence cooperation and enhancing bilateral relations between India and Mongolia.
