Indian and US Special Forces (SF) units are training together in the 13^th edition of the Indo-US Joint Special Forces exercise “Ex Vajra Prahar 2022. The annual exercises are hosted alternatively between India and the USA.

The exercises are currently ongoing at the India Army’s Special Forces Training School (SFTS), located in Bakloh in the Northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.

Personnel from the US Special Forces 1st Special Forces Group (SFG) and Special Tactics Squadron (STS) are participating in the 21-day long exercises, while their Indian counterparts are from troops present at the SFTS. 

The joint exercises being conducted in mountainous terrain are aimed at sharing experiences and skills related to joint mission planning and operational tactics as also to improve inter-operability between SF units of both nations. The troops involved also completed a 48-hour long validation exercise aimed at validating battle drills including reconnaissance, surveillance, target designation and direct action. 

The 12^th edition of the exercises was conducted at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington in October 2021.