India-Mongolia commence joint military exercise commences in Meghalaya
Guwahati: The 16th edition of the India-Mongolia joint military exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant’ commenced on Wednesday (July 3) at the Foreign Training Node in Meghalaya’s Umroi. The joint exercise will be conducted between July 3 and 16, 2024.
The Indian contingent, comprising 45 personnel, is being represented by a battalion of Sikkim Scouts along with personnel from other arms and services.
The Mongolian contingent is being represented by personnel from the 150 Quick Reaction Force Battalion of the Mongolian Army.
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Exercise Nomadic Elephant is an annual training event conducted alternatively in India and Mongolia. The last edition was conducted in Mongolia in July 2023.
The opening ceremony of the joint exercise was attended by the Ambassador of Mongolia to India, Dambajavyn Ganbold, and General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Indian Army’s 51 Sub Area, Major General Prasanna Joshi.
The exercise aims to enhance the joint military capability of both sides to undertake counter-insurgency operations in a sub-conventional scenario under Chapter VII of the United Nations Mandate. The exercise will focus on operations in the semi-urban as well as mountainous terrain.
Tactical drills during the exercise include response to a terrorist action, establishment of a joint command post, and establishment of an intelligence and surveillance centre.
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Other drills of the exercise include securing of a helipad and landing site, small team insertion and extraction, special heliborne operations, cordon and search operations besides employment of drones and counter-drone systems, among others.
Exercise Nomadic Elephant will enable both sides to share their best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures of conducting joint operations.
The exercise will also facilitate the developing of interoperability, bonhomie and camaraderie between the two armies. It will also enhance the level of defence cooperation, further augmenting bilateral relations between the two friendly nations.
Chief of General Staff of the armed forces of Mongolia, Major General Gyanbyamba Sunrev, is scheduled to attend the closing ceremony on July 16, along with the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Indian Army’s 33 Corps, Lieutenant General Zubin A Minwalla.