EXERCISE VAJRA PRAHAR

NEWS: 16th edition of the India-US joint special forces exercise ‘Vajra Prahar’ began at the Special Forces Training School in Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh.

Vajra Prahar

• First conducted in India in 2010
• Held alternately in India and the US.
• It involves personnel from the Indian Army’s Special Forces and the US Army’s Green Berets.
• Aims to promote robust military cooperation by enhancing interoperability, jointness, and the mutual exchange of tactical expertise.
• Sharing of best practices and experience in areas such as joint mission planning capabilities and operational tactics.

Cooperation

• ‘Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership’à signed in October 2025
• India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS X) launched in 2023
• Crucial agreements:
  • Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA – 2016)
  • Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA – 2018)
  • Industrial Security Agreement (ISA – 2019)
  • Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA – 2020).
• The Indian armed forces operate major US-origin platforms including the Apache, Chinook, MH60R helicopters, and P8I maritime aircraft.
• Key bilateral drills à Yudh Abhyas (Army), Cope India (Air Force), and Tiger Triumph (Tri-services).
• Major multilateral exercisesàMalabar, RIMPAC, and Red Flag