India and Australia conclude 5th edition of AUSTRAHIND 2026 exercise
The 14-day joint military exercise concluded in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, following a 36-hour Joint Validation Exercise.
The Indian Army and the Australian Army successfully concluded the 5th edition of their joint military exercise, AUSTRAHIND 2026, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, according to The Hawk. The 14-day exercise ended on Sunday with a closing ceremony held at the Foreign Training Node.
The military drills included a 36-hour Joint Validation Exercise conducted from October 30 to 31. This phase involved intensive operations across jungle, island and coastal environments, covering tasks such as securing beachheads, casualty evacuation, and Counter-Insurgency/Counter-Terrorism (CI/CT) operations.
The exercise featured coordination between the Indian Army and the Australian Defence Force. Support was provided by the Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Vizhinjam International Port Authority, Kerala Fire and Rescue Services, and the Kerala Police.
During Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) training, the Indian Navy's INS Sharda and a Sea King helicopter performed a ship-to-shore troop insertion. This demonstrated the integration of land, sea and air capabilities in coastal terrain.
The validation was witnessed by Major General Matt Burr of the Australian Defence Force, Major General Kapil Rana of the Indian Army, and Commodore A J Dowling, the New Zealand Defence Attaché to India and Australia.
Australian High Commissioner to India Philip Green stated on X that such bilateral exercises strengthen mutual understanding, build trust and deepen the defence partnership between the two nations.