AUSTRAHIND 2026 training has moved into jungle, island and coastal terrain at the Foreign Training Node in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Troops from the Indian Army's Garhwal Rifles and the Australian Army's 13th Infantry Brigade are working through a 14-day programme that began on 19 October and runs until 1 November.

The schedule covers physical conditioning, counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism drills, combat swimming and drone manoeuvring, according to the Indian Army.

AUSTRAHIND 2026 training adds combat swimming and drone manoeuvring

Combat swimming is the ability to move through water with weapons and equipment. Any operation that puts troops ashore on a beach or an island depends on it. Drone manoeuvring is on the list as well. When it announced the exercise, the Ministry of Defence said the training would include surveillance and reconnaissance, with aerial and maritime dimensions built into joint planning and tactical drills.

Counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism serials run alongside.

The aim, the Army said, is to sharpen combat readiness, tactical coordination and interoperability between the two forces, and to build mutual trust.

Exercise theme set under Chapter VII of the UN Mandate

This edition is built around Joint Sub-Conventional Operations in Island and Coastal Environment under Chapter VII of the UN Mandate. Chapter VII missions are those the UN Security Council authorises to use force to maintain or restore peace. Around 120 personnel from each army are taking part, around 240 in all. The Indian side also includes personnel from other arms and services.

An observer delegation from New Zealand is attending for the first time, a detail the ministry flagged when the fifth edition opened in Thiruvananthapuram.

Australia's High Commissioner to India, Philip Green, has already visited the Australian contingent at the training area.

Fifth edition returns to India after Perth

The fourth edition was held at Irwin Barracks in Perth from 13 to 26 October 2025, with a Gorkha Rifles battalion leading the Indian contingent. That round focused on company-level operations in open and semi-desert terrain.

Kerala's green cover and coastline give this year's training a very different setting.

Defence Ministers moved AUSTRAHIND towards amphibious training

The joint statement from the second India-Australia Defence Ministers' Dialogue in June noted that AUSTRAHIND has moved towards amphibious combat and littoral manoeuvre. The same statement provided for expanded Indian participation in Exercise Talisman Sabre in 2027. Both governments renewed the Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation in July.

Garhwal Rifles troops come off a second exercise this month

Garhwal Rifles troops also made up most of the Indian contingent at Exercise KAZIND-2026 in Kazakhstan, which closed at Oskemen earlier this month.