Apaches at Yudh Abhyas 2026 are training with Indian and US Army troops at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan. The Indian Army's AH-64E Apache attack helicopters have joined the exercise, now in its 22nd edition. According to the Army, the helicopters are taking part in joint mission planning, battlefield coordination, integrated manoeuvres and precision engagement.

Put simply, the drills teach helicopter crews and ground troops to work together in battle.

What the Apaches at Yudh Abhyas are practising

Each mission is planned jointly by the helicopter crews and the ground commanders. They decide the target, the route and the timing. In the air, the Apaches stay close to the troops, who share what they can see on the ground. The helicopters then attack the target and move away so the troops can move forward. The Army said this gives troops practice in working with attack helicopters in conditions close to real combat.

The Apaches at Yudh Abhyas are flying with rocket pods fitted. Their sensors, mounted on the nose, are used to find and hit targets on the range.

Why working together matters

A pilot flying fast and a soldier on foot see the battlefield differently. To work as a team, they need the same procedures, clear radio messages and a shared idea of where everyone is. This takes more effort when two armies train together, since each has its own way of working. The Army said the drills help both sides improve these common procedures, communication and coordination.

The Army's own Apache squadron

The Apaches at Mahajan belong to the Army's 451 Army Aviation Squadron, based in Jodhpur. The squadron was set up in March 2024 as the Army's first Apache unit. The Army's six AH-64Es were ordered in February 2020. According to reports at the time, the first three arrived in July 2025 and the last three in December 2025.

The Indian Air Force has flown its own 22 Apaches since 2019.

Parts of the helicopter are made in India. Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited, a joint venture of Tata and Boeing, builds Apache fuselages in Hyderabad. Its line dispatched its 400th Apache fuselage earlier this month.

Training across multiple domains

The Army said the use of Apaches shows how Yudh Abhyas has grown. Both armies are now training to plan and carry out joint operations across multiple domains.

Where the exercise stands

Yudh Abhyas 2026 formally began on 15 September at Auli in Uttarakhand, with training also taking place at Mahajan. According to the Ministry of Defence, the exercise focuses on Integrated Battle Groups in mountain and semi-mountain terrain. It will run until 28 September.

The US troops are from the 11th Airborne Division.

The Apaches are the latest addition at Mahajan. Earlier, the two armies carried out joint artillery firing on the M777, Dhanush and Pinaka, and practised calling in artillery support from Observation Posts.