India and the United States have come together to conduct their first-ever joint tri-service Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise. This exercise, named ‘Tiger Triumph’, is scheduled to take place from 13th to 21st November 2019. The areas of operation will be off the coasts of Visakhapatnam and Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. The overreaching aim of this exercise is to develop interoperability for conducting HADR operations.
The Tiger Triumph
‘Tiger Triumph’ is a significant event in the history of joint military exercises between India and the US. It marks the first time tri-services from both nations will work together on an exercise primarily focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
The exercise will be conducted off the coasts of Visakhapatnam and Kakinada, two cities located in India’s coastal state, Andhra Pradesh. Training will take place over an eight-day period, from November 13th to 21st of 2019.
The exercise’s main objective is to promote interoperability between the forces involved. This means that they must learn how to work together effectively, facilitating a seamless integration of procedures and capabilities when responding to disaster scenarios.
Previous Joint Exercises
The Indo-US collaborative exercises are not new; they have been carried out previously, focusing on different aspects of military training. Two significant examples are ‘Yudh Abhyas’ and ‘Vajra Prahar.’
‘Yudh Abhyas’ is a part of the ongoing series of joint exercises between the Indian and US Armies, focusing on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations under the United Nations charter.
‘Vajra Prahar’ focuses on special operations, with personnel from both countries’ Special Forces participating in the training.
Air and Naval Exercises
Joint exercises extend to the Air Forces and Navies of both countries. ‘Cope India’ is an example of such an exercise conducted between their respective Air Forces.
The naval counterpart of these exercises is the trilateral ‘Malabar’ exercise, which includes Japan as the third partner. This exercise aims to deepen cooperation and understanding between the navies of these countries.
| Exercise | Type of Exercise | Nations Involved |
|---|---|---|
| Tiger Triumph | Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) | India, USA |
| Yudh Abhyas | Military training | India, USA |
| Vajra Prahar | Special operations | India, USA |
| Cope India | Air Force | India, USA |
| Malabar | Naval Exercise | India, USA, Japan |
Looking Towards a Collaborative Future
These joint exercises exemplify the growing defense partnership between India and the US. By working together, they aim to improve their operational readiness, capacity building, and interoperability. The ‘Tiger Triumph’ HADR exercise signifies a critical step in this collaboration, highlighting the commitment of both nations to respond efficiently and effectively to humanitarian crises and natural disasters.
