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AUSTRAHIND 2026 begins in Thiruvananthapuram with about 120 troops each from India and Australia

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AUSTRAHIND 2026, the fifth edition of the India-Australia joint military exercise, began on 19 October 2026 at the Foreign Training Node in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, the Ministry of Defence said. It runs until 1 November and brings together about 120 personnel each from the Indian Army and the Australian Army.

AUSTRAHIND 2026: Troops at the opening of the exercise at the Foreign Training Node in Thiruvananthapuram
Troops at the opening of the exercise at the Foreign Training Node in Thiruvananthapuram Photo: PIB (Government of India, free to use with credit).

Who is taking part in AUSTRAHIND 2026

The Indian Army contingent is drawn mainly from the Garhwal Rifles, along with personnel from other arms and services. The Australian Army has sent troops from its 13 Brigade. For the first time, an observer delegation from New Zealand is also attending the exercise, the ministry said. The previous edition was held at Irwin Barracks in Perth, Australia, from 13 to 26 October 2025, so the venue alternates between the two countries. The theme this year is “Joint Sub-Conventional Operations in Island and Coastal Environment under Chapter VII of the UN Mandate”. Chapter VII of the UN Charter covers action the Security Council can authorise in response to threats to peace, so the scenario is built around a mandate of that kind.

Key Facts

  • Edition: 5th
  • Dates: 19 October to 1 November 2026
  • Venue: Foreign Training Node, Thiruvananthapuram
  • Troops: about 120 each; Garhwal Rifles (India), 13 Brigade (Australia)
  • First: New Zealand observer delegation

Joint military exercise drills for island and coastal terrain

The aim is to improve interoperability, jointmanship and operational coordination between the two armies, and to build a common understanding of tactics, techniques and procedures for island and coastal operations. Troops will carry out joint planning, tactical drills and combat-oriented training in realistic conditions, including aerial and maritime dimensions. Training will focus on coordinated operations along coasts and islands, surveillance and reconnaissance, and the protection of vital installations. The two sides will also rehearse responses to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief contingencies and exchange professional experience and best practices.

Indo-Pacific cooperation and what comes next

The ministry said AUSTRAHIND 2026 will further strengthen military-to-military cooperation, interoperability and mutual trust between India and Australia. It added that the exercise reinforces a shared commitment to peace, stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region. The focus on islands and coastlines reflects the kind of terrain where both armies may be called on to act together, whether in a crisis or after a natural disaster. The presence of a New Zealand delegation also widens the circle of partners watching how the two forces train together. The series began with AUSTRA HIND 22 at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan from 28 November to 11 December 2022, when the ministry described it as a yearly event to be held alternately in India and Australia. That first edition paired troops from the Dogra Regiment with soldiers of the Australian Army’s 13th Brigade, in semi-desert terrain under a UN peace enforcement mandate.

Why It Matters: Island and coastal operations under a UN-style mandate are a likely real-world task in the Indo-Pacific. Regular drills let the two armies plan and act together quickly, including in disaster relief.

Also on TrendDesh: Exercise Konkan 2026 ends off Plymouth after INS Trishul and HMS Sutherland drill together · SCO meeting in Dushanbe: Rajnath Singh to represent India at heads of government talks

Source: PIB (Ministry of Defence), 19 Oct 2026 · PIB Marathi release with photo · UN Charter, Chapter VII · PIB: AUSTRA HIND 22, 27 Nov 2022 · The Hindu: Austra Hind 22, Nov 2022

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