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The seventh edition of the India–Japan joint military exercise Dharma Guardian is currently underway at the Foreign Training Node in Chaubattia, Uttarakhand. The exercise began on February 24 and will continue until March 9, bringing together troops from the Indian Army and Japan’s Ground Self-Defence Force for intensive joint training.
Around 120 personnel from each side are participating in the exercise. The Japanese contingent is drawn from the 32nd Infantry Regiment, while soldiers of the Ladakh Scouts represent the Indian Army.
The exercise began with orientation and integration activities before moving into a series of field-training drills designed to improve interoperability and coordination during joint operations in semi-urban environments, according to an Indian Army official. The training programme focuses on physical endurance, joint planning and coordinated tactical manoeuvres under simulated operational conditions.
Among the key activities being practised are the establishment of a temporary operating base, the development of an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance grid, the setting up of mobile vehicle check posts, and the conduct of cordon-and-search operations in a hostile setting. Troops are also rehearsing heliborne missions and house intervention drills as part of the counter-terrorism training component.
The exercise will conclude with a validation phase in which both contingents will execute an integrated field scenario to assess the operational standards achieved during the training period.
Dharma Guardian is one of the regular bilateral exercises conducted between India and Japan, aimed at enhancing military cooperation while strengthening professional ties and operational understanding between the two forces.
Team BharatShakti
