The 18th edition of the India–Mongolia joint military exercise Nomadic Elephant 2026 began on September 21 at the Foreign Training Node in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. The Indian Army and Mongolian Armed Forces are participating with 45 personnel each. The exercise runs until October 3 and aims to strengthen coordination and combat readiness for counter-insurgency operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain under a United Nations mandate. Training activities include cordon-and-search operations, room-intervention drills, special helicopter operations, cybersecurity training, and the use of drones and counter-drone systems. The annual exercise is held alternately in India and Mongolia, helping both armies exchange operational expertise, improve interoperability and deepen bilateral defense cooperation.