AUSTRAHIND 2026: 5th India-Australia Exercise in Kerala

The fifth edition of AUSTRAHIND, the joint military exercise of the Indian Army and the Australian Army, opened on 19 October 2026 at the Foreign Training Node in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The drill runs until 1 November 2026.

Who is taking part

Each army has sent about 120 soldiers. The Indian side is built around troops of the Garhwal Rifles, with men from other arms and services joining them. The Australian contingent is drawn from 13 Brigade. For the first time in this series, an observer delegation from New Zealand is attending, which widens the exercise beyond its two founding armies.

The theme

The chosen theme is Joint Sub-Conventional Operations in Island and Coastal Environment under Chapter VII of the UN Mandate. Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter deals with action to restore international peace and security, so the training is framed around tasks the two armies could be given on a UN-mandated mission. The aim is to raise interoperability, jointmanship and operational coordination, and to build a shared reading of tactics, techniques and procedures suited to islands and coastlines.

What the troops will train for

• Joint planning and tactical drills in realistic operational settings
• Combat training that brings in aerial and maritime dimensions
• Surveillance and reconnaissance in coastal and island terrain
• Protection of vital installations
• Response to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief situations
• Exchange of professional experience and best practices

Earlier edition

The fourth edition was hosted by Australia at Irwin Barracks, Perth, from 13 to 26 October 2025. The series alternates between the two countries, so the 2026 edition returning to Indian soil follows that pattern. Kerala's long coastline and island training facilities suit the theme picked this year.

Why it matters

Defence exercises of this kind are the working end of a defence partnership: they test whether two forces can share orders, signals and procedures at short notice. AUSTRAHIND 2026 is meant to deepen military-to-military cooperation and mutual trust between India and Australia, and both sides describe it as a restatement of their commitment to peace, stability and security in the Indo-Pacific. For exam purposes, note that AUSTRAHIND is an army-to-army exercise, distinct from the naval and air drills the two countries also hold.