India and Australia hold joint wargames in Kerala as China becomes more assertive in the Indo-Pacific
India and Australia have begun their joint army exercise AUSTRAHIND in Thiruvananthapuram from October 19 to November 1. About 120 personnel from both nations are participating with a focus on improving maritime security and interoperability. Troops will engage in joint planning, tactical drills, and combat training under a United Nations mandate. There is an emphasis on stronger cooperation between the two countries' defense industries and military forces.
India and Australia have begun the fifth edition of their joint army exercise AUSTRAHIND at the Foreign Training Node in Thiruvananthapuram, as the two countries widen cooperation in maritime security, interoperability and defence industry. The exercise started on Monday, October 19th to November 1st. About 120 personnel from each army are taking part, with the Indian contingent drawn from the Garhwal Rifles along with other arms and services and the Australian side from its 13 Brigade. A New Zealand observer delegation is attending for the first time. The previous edition was held at Irwin Barracks in Perth from October 2025.The theme is joint sub-conventional operations in island and coastal environments under Chapter VII of the UN mandate. Troops will carry out joint planning, tactical drills and combat-oriented training with aerial and maritime elements, covering surveillance and reconnaissance, protection of vital installations and disaster relief contingencies. The Ministry of Defence says the aim is better interoperability and a shared understanding of tactics and procedures in island and coastal terrain.The army exercise sits within a wider set of engagements. AUSINDEX is the bilateral naval exercise, Malabar brings in Japan and the United States, and Australia hosts the Pitch Black air exercise and Talisman Sabre, in which India took part for the first time in 2025.
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