Thiruvananthapuram, November 1: Military exercise AUSTRAHIND 2026 culminated with a 36-hour Joint Validation Exercise conducted from October 30 to 31 at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, under Chapter VI of the UN Charter, ANI reported, citing an official release. The validation involved intensive joint operations across jungle, island and coastal environments, including sea and air insertions, securing beachheads and port facilities, casualty evacuation, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), protection of vital installations and counter-insurgency/counter-terrorism operations.

Source: ANI via APNA MA TV

36 hoursDuration of the joint validation exercise, Oct 30–31
5th editionAUSTRAHIND, held Oct 19 – Nov 1 in Thiruvananthapuram
~120 eachIndian and Australian Army personnel taking part
3 services + civil agenciesIndian Navy, IAF, Vizhinjam Port and Kerala Fire & Rescue supported

The exercise brought together the Indian Army and the Australian Defence Force, supported by personnel and assets from the Indian Navy, the Indian Air Force, the Vizhinjam International Port Authority and Kerala Fire and Rescue Services, demonstrating multi-agency coordination and multi-domain operational synergy, the release said. The validation was witnessed by Major General Matt Burr, GOC 2 Division of the Australian Defence Force; Major General Kapil Rana, GOC 54 Infantry Division of the Indian Army; and Commodore A.J. Dowling, New Zealand's Defence Attaché to India and Australia.

Source: ANI via APNA MA TV

India Sentinels, in its own write-up of the culmination, said the drill was conducted under Chapter VI of the UN Charter — the framework for UN peacekeeping-style operations — and tested the two forces across jungle, island and coastal terrain, with troops carrying out insertions by sea and air, securing beachheads and port facilities and practising casualty evacuation.

Source: India Sentinels

The fifth edition of AUSTRAHIND began on October 19 and saw about 120 personnel each from the Indian and Australian armies take part, with the Indian contingent comprising troops from the Garhwal Rifles along with personnel from other arms and services, Inshorts reported. The exercise reaffirmed the two countries' shared commitment to interoperability, joint operational readiness and bilateral defence cooperation, the official release added.

Source: Inshorts