After conducting airborne anti-terror exercises with Russia in the icy plains of Pskov this month, the Indian troops will head to Alaska for the latest round of ‘Yudh Abhyas’ series of joint training maneuvers with the US Army on September 24.

A company level force of Indian soldiers, with a ‘special forces component’, will participate in a simulated anti-terror drill with as many as 700 US soldiers at the Donnelly training area in Alaska.

The final modalities are still being worked out at joint planning meetings between the countries, but sources say that the duration of the exercise is likely to be close to two weeks.

The exercise in Alaska is a follow-up of the ongoing ‘Yudh Abhyas’ exercise, involving the US Marines at the Counter Insurgency Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS), Vairengte in Mizoram. Close to 60 US Marines are currently taking part in a low intensity conflict exercise at the premier training establishment.

A contingent of Special Forces personnel is currently in Russia for a 10-day airborne exercise with the elite airborne division to “engage international terror groups on foreign soil”.

Troops are playing out a scenario that will involve the launching of a joint airborne force under the UN mandate for “seeking and eliminating terrorist leadership” operating from a neutral country.

In November, close to 70 Indian soldiers will head to China for the first joint training exercise with the country. While the final details for the exercise are being worked out, the joint maneuvers are likely to take place in the mountainous Chengdu Military Region that borders the Indian North Eastern states.