The 5th edition of the Indo-Japanese joint military exercise series Dharma Guardian is underway in India at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan. 

The annual exercise series is conducted alternatively in India and Japan. 

This year’s edition of the exercises features 40 personnel each, from the Japan Ground Self Defence Force’s (JGSDF) 34th Infantry Regiment and a Battalion of the Indian Army’s Rajputana Rifles, respectively. 

Lieutenant General Togashi Yuichi, Commanding General, Eastern Army, JGSDF is also scheduled to visit India during the exercises and witness a combat shooting demonstration, Special Heliborne Operation and house intervention drills.

Over the course of the exercises troops from both nations will establish a Temporary Operating Base, create an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Grid, set up a Mobile Vehicle Check Post and execute Cordon and Search Operations in a hostile village.