Rampur Hounds join India-U.S. troops for specialised drills at Yudh Abhyas

Indian Army soldiers with a trained Rampur Hound military dog during a tactical drill in Yudh Abhyas 2026. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Indian Army’s military dogs, including indigenous Rampur Hounds, are showcasing their specialised operational skills alongside U.S. Army personnel during the ongoing India-U.S. bilateral exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026.According to Indian Army, four Army Canines–Rampur Hounds Victor and Rowdy, Belgian Malinois Zac and Labrador Retriever Rice are participating in the exercise, demonstrating their capabilities in room intervention and rappelling drills as part of the professional exchanges with the U.S. Army. Indian and U.S. Army personnel interact during Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026, with military dogs (Belgian Malinois and Rampur Hound) taking centre stage during the joint tactical drill. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement The demonstrations provided U.S. Army personnel an opportunity to observe the training, agility and employment of the canines alongside troops in demanding tactical situations.Victor and Rowdy belong to the Rampur Hound breed, an indigenous Indian breed that is increasingly being inducted for specialised military roles. The breed’s participation in the exercise highlights the Army’s efforts to employ indigenous canine breeds for operational tasks.The canines also have operational experience from deployments along India’s northern and eastern borders. The Rampur Hounds had earlier participated in an international multilateral exercise at Umroi in Meghalaya and were subsequently deployed along the Manipur border, where they successfully detected improvised explosive devices (IEDs).Their siblings were also deployed in the Jalandhar and Amritsar sectors during Operation Sindoor, demonstrating the utility of the canine line in varied operational environments.The participation of the Army Canines in Yudh Abhyas 2026 underscores the growing role of trained military dogs in specialised operations and highlights the close coordination between the animals and their handlers during tactical missions. Published - September 20, 2026 07:49 pm IST